Development of World Herbal Forest to help locals: Vij

Haryana government is developing a World Herbal Forest at Morni Hills of Panchkula district to increase plantation of native herbal species.
Haryana Health and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Anil Vij today said that besides increasing plantation of native herbal species best suited to the local conditions, it would also improve the socio-economic condition of people living in the vicinity of forests by providing them employment.
"For this purpose, possibility of inter-cropping of medicinal species among local farmers through supply of herbal plants and tree saplings was being explored," he said, adding herbal plants and seeds would be provided to farmers at affordable prices.

Vij said special centres would be set up for value addition and processing of collected herbs in the area.
He said that development of forest would increase awareness about herbal plants and Ayurvedic medicines.
Efforts would be made to make people aware about herbal products and their effects, the minister said.
"For this, herbal nurseries would be developed and huts would be set up for assistance of visitors, where they could get herbal plants as per their need," Vij said.
Special attention was being paid to removal of weeds and ensuring protection for natural enrichment, he added.