The national buyer-seller meet on medicinal plants, christened as ‘Oushadha Keralam 2013’, scheduled to be held from November 20 to 24 has been postponed to next month because of technical problems, informed by K G Sreekumar, CEO of the mega event.

The herbal medicine expo-cum-buyer seller meet is organised by government of Kerala along with National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB). The event will take place now from December 12 to 16 at Thrissur in Kerala.

The main objective of the event is to create awareness on the need to grow and protect medicinal plants for the preparation of classical ayurvedic formulations and to encourage research work in herbal medicines, sources from the organising committee said.

While releasing the logo of the event, state health minister, VS Sivakumar said government will implement several schemes to support the cultivators of herbs and medicinal plants to reduce the prevailing shortage of the natural products.

As part of the meet, selected farmers of plants will be felicitated and awarded. Experts in medicinal plant cultivation and scientists from various agricultural universities and research institutes in India will speak on farming and preservation of medicinal plants. There will be separate seminars and discussions related to the subject in the two day seminars being scheduled as part of the event, said the chief executive officer.

Manufacturers of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines, research institutes of Indian System of Medicines and ISM departments of various state governments will take part in the event.

“We hope the event will make a grand leap in the promotion of medicinal plant sector of India, especially in Kerala. The meet will also serve a platform for the direct interaction between medicinal plant cultivators and industry,” said the CEO.