Magical crops

The meet on medicinal, aromatic and herbal crops organised by Nabard, fulfilled its aim of providing a forum to discuss issues related to these crops

National Consultative meet on Medicinal, Aromatic and Herbal Crops organised by Nabard on May 12, 2004 aimed at providing a forum to discuss the relevant
issues affecting the Medicinal

and Aromatic industry in the country.
The event was inaugurated by Ranjana Kumar, Chairperson, Nabard and was attended by experts and stakeholders in the field. Eminent personalities in the field of medicine and aromatic plants like Dr SP Khanuja, Director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Dr RBS Rawat, CEO, National Medicinal Plants Board, scientists from research institutes, the farming communities, NGOs, bankers and doyens from medicinal and aromatic industries like Pramod Sharma, Director, Baidynanath, Dr Ranjit Puranik of Dhootpapeshwar, Dr Kishore Shroff of Charak Pharma, Dr Govind Kelkar of Kelkar Aromatics, Dr Girish Parekh of Zandu deliberated in the meet. YSP Thorat, MD, Nabard who deliberated along with the panelists on the key issues emerging in the sector chaired the plenary session. This was followed by an open house discussion on global and domestic scenario of medicinal and aromatic crops, opportunities and challenges in their production and processing; and the relationship between farmers and the industry. Mr Thorat assured the house that Nabard would be instrumental in gearing the banking sector to meet the emerging challenges.
Speakers elaborated on the fact that medicinal plants like Isabgul in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Senna in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Guggul in Gujarat and Henna in Rajasthan have led to employment generation. They stressed that farmers should make use of certified planting material and should undertake the cultivation of true varieties.
It was indicated that the National Medicinal Plant Board intends taking initiatives for strengthening the information intelligence system for medicinal plants. It also plans to take initiatives to develop cost effective organic certification procedures capable of meeting the needs of the industry and export market.
The speakers also suggested setting up of an efficient single window
agency for fund dissemination and research and development including the standardisation of agro techniques. Also, they emphasised the necessity of proper documentation and disseminating information about the existing demand gap, of commercially proven crops, to farmers. There is a need for coordination among agencies that are involved in promoting medicinal and aromatic plants. A legal framework for contract farming should also be developed to protect the interest of farmers and industry. They also suggested the abolishing of sales tax on all medicinal and aromatic plants.

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