Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) has bagged sponsored project funding to the tune of Rs 142.84 lakh for 2009-10. The sponsors include NABARD, National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of Science & Technology and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation. In addition to the sponsored projects, CIMAP is assisted under the 11th Five year plan allocation.

"The sponsored projects give the much needed fillip to some of the focus areas of work carried out at CIMAP, Bangalore. These include Biovillage development where we create a value chain for the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) from farm production genotype to market," Dr EVS Prakasa Rao, scientist-in-charge, Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatics Plants, Bangalore told Pharmabiz.

Under the Biovillage concept, CIMPA provides end-to-end solutions to small and marginal farmers. Comprehensive training is imparted in agro packaging (planting to post harvesting and extraction of essential oils). Extensive exposure is provided on the variety of MAPs and technology inputs in nucleus planting material of genetically pure varieties.

In addition, the Institute also identifies local entrepreneurs who are also trained by CIMAP to set up MAP processing units. "We are a facilitator for the buy back arrangements between the farmers and the processing units. Besides we carry out quality tests of the final product for the entrepreneurs who are in turn connected to the markets," he added.

A model Biovillage project on Pacholi involving 350 farmers was executed by CIMAP at Siddhapur in Uttara Kannada district. The NABARD grant of Rs 10 lakh is a two-year Biovillage project focusing on the cultivation of 'Vetiver' in Bhatkal in Uttara Karnataka.

The Bangalore facility cultivates 20 MAPs. These include Citronella, Lemongrass, Palmrosa, Rosemary, Geranium, Patchouli, Eucalyptus citriodara, Davana, Centella Asiatica, Bacopa, monnieri (brahmi), Aloe Vera, Ocimums, Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng) and Catharanthus roseus. Two high yielding varieties of C roseus: Nirmal and Dhawal have also been developed at this Centre. Extensive research on agro technology, genetic improvement, processing and phytochemcial technology of commercially viable MAPs are undertaken here. Further, CIMAP has also developed distillation methods and parameters have been standardization for all the aromatic plant extracts.

The focus on high yielding MAPs has seen increased demand from the pharma, nutraceutical industry and essential oils are used for aromatherapy and fragrance sector. Although CIMAP has no direct marketing arm, the pharma and herbal sector are constantly availing its extracts for drug development and aromatic purposes, said Dr Prakash.

The institute has also received three patents for novel chemical mixture to inhibit nitrification in soils, periwinkle and geranium plants.

CIMAP headquartered at Lucknow is headed by Professor Ram Rajashekaran. Its other offices are at Uttarkhand and Hyderabad. Its Lucknow lab is NABL certified and Bangalore facility is gearing up for the same. The latter has received 'EcoCert' for its farm, organic plantation material, essential oils, seeds and herbs.

The centre has also tied up with the Indian Institute of Science and works closely with Indian Institute of Horticulture and other ICAR labs.