NIPER-SAS Nagar has now teamed up with Ghaziabad-based Ayurvet to support the farmers in Punjab for medicinal plant cultivation. Four medicinal plants: Konch (Mucuna pruriens), Vachh (Acorus calamus), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and Kalmegh (Androgrphis paniculata) were identified for cultivation along with the routine wheat and rice crops.
 
In this regard a meeting was organized with some progressive farmers from the districts of Mohali, and Mansa district and Punjab at NIPER-SAS Nagar in the presence of officials from State Medicinal Plant Board. The benefits of medicinal plant cultivation were highlighted as it would give an alternative farming opportunity to the conventional wheat/paddy cycle which depletes the soil of a particular class of nutrients.
 
“Taking up medicinal plants would replenish the soil of its nutrients and crop yield can be substantially improved. Farmers can procure the plant materials like seeds and rhizomes from Ayurvet Limited on a nominal price,” the experts highlighted.
 
The detailed economics of cultivation of the four medicinal plants were also discussed and deliberated during the meeting. The farmers from Punjab expressed their keen interest to undertake cultivation of these medicinal plants initially on trial basis in small cultivation area of about one acre land. At the their concerns were highlighted on the marketing of their produce of medicinal plants.
 
Dr. Amit Jain representing Ayurvet said that the company could have an agreement with the formers to purchase the medicinal plant produce on a buy-back basis.
 
The meeting was attended by Prof Raghuram Rao Akkinepally, Director, NIPER, Prof Sanjay Jachak, In-Charge, Department of Natural Products, NIPER, Prof. Inder Pal Singh, Department of Natural Products, NIPER, Dr A S Sandhu, Scientist, NIPER, Dr Amit Jain, Ayurvet Limited, Sh. Mahaveer Singh, Chief Conservator of Forest and Daljeet Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, representatives State Medicinal Plant Board, Parminder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, S A S Nagar, Punjab along with 10 staff from Punjab State Forest department.