In the earlier post I have
mentioned about a Brain storming session recently held on the Status of
Medicinal Plants at Tamil Nadu Forest Training Academy. (19th
June2015). The Decision makers and almost all senior officials of TN Forest
Department, Industry representatives, Forest Academy, College, Research
institutes and few farmer Association office bearers took part.
Most forest officers were of the
view that conservation is the priority and no harvesting should be allowed.
Some even felt that No data is available on the inventory of species available
in Tamil Nadu forest. Researchers were for prioritizing identification of
Genetic variability. Many expressed that
the entire herbal trade is non transparent and traders and industry plunder
nations wealth.
Cultivators expressed the views
that Seeds, Technology and appropriate marketing mechanism is not there.
Industries were saying they find
no shortage of any crude drug and added it is wrong to say that there is no transparency as most
companies go by open tender process, some with forward contracts with gatherers
and growers. The need for storage godowns was also expressed. The general perception
was, Medicinal plant sector is unorganized and with no institutional mechanism
in place for Certification and provision of authentic herbal raw material
On my part I raised the following on behalf CTMR
1. My
concern on the absence of The Commissioner of Indian medicine who is
responsible for procurement of medicine for all 1800 GH/PHC/ ISM Hospitals and
Colleges – The largest user of Medicinal plants in the meeting and the absence
of State Medicinal plant board representative and the horticultural Dept who
promotes home gardens and sanctions subsidy for plant growers.
2. The
Revival of the now neglected Medicinal Plants Development Areas created in
2000-2002 across the state and non –utilization of the Resource created.
3. Proper
monitoring of The AYUSH Cluster which
was funded by Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to act as a herbal crude drug
bank and common facility for testing and manufacture by smaller units. This is
yet to take off.
4. The
possibility of providing saplings for Home herbal garden by the Forest
extension centres/ forest nurseries and 56 research units functioning in the
state – Integrating with Organic terrace garden project of Horticulture Dept.
5. Promotion
of 20 important medicinal Trees (50 nos each species)in the campus of all educational
institutes particularly 550 engineering colleges- Higher Education secretary to
send a guideline through Anna University to the colleges and Director of College
education. Similarly Sipcot INDUSTRIAL PARKS and others could grow as Avenue
and hedge tress. Forest Extension centres to encourage Village Forest Committees to grow
and sell saplings for the Institutes. This will not only augument medicinal
plant resource but improve livelihood of Marginalized forest dependant
communities.
6. Forest
Dept to encourage NABARD to fund for Rural Godowns which could act as grading
and storage centers for gathers and growers and certified clean authentic
material will be made available to ISM Industry at affordable cost and farmers
will be saved from distress selling due to lack of storage space.
I hope ‘ Amma’ Home Herbal Garden
kit will be available at the earliest with 7 most important medicinal plants
useful as home remedy.
