Jharkhand boost to cultivate medicinal plants, herbs

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has decidedto undertake a detailed survey on cultivation of medicinal plants inJharkhand. ICFRE director general V K Bahuguna said there has beenconsiderable scope for production of medicinal plants in Jharkhand inview of their use by tribals in their daily lives.

He said ICFRE scientists will identify 7-8 species of medicinal herbsand plants used by the tribals of Jharkhand to develop them further.

Bahuguna, an officer of the Indian Forest Services (IFS) in histhree-day visit to Jharkhand visited some of the forests in Khuntiwhere several farmers had undertaken cultivation of lac for theirlivelihood. He said that local farmers had now understood that cuttingof trees would not create additional source of income and in lieu ofthat if they cultivate lac on the trees they could earn considerableamount from lac.

 

According to department of industry of the state government, 22 medicinal plants are available in various parts of the state and hence investment for manufacturing various medicines based on medicinalplants and herbs could be a wise proposition.