Sir,
This has reference to the editorial’State Medicinal Plants’ (DE, Feb 3, 2019).It is heartening to read that the Government has reconstituted Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Board with the Advisor to the Governor Incharge Health and Medical Education Department as the Chairman and Administrative Secretary being the Vice Chairman.Besides the Board will have experts and professionals as members such as Vice Chanceller SKUAST Jammu/Kashmir, PCCF, Director IIM J&K, Director ISM, Directors Agriculture/Floriculture/Horticulture/Gardens and Parks.There is no doubt that Nature has bestowed our state with rich natural resources such as water bodies,biodiversity, high snow capped mountains, lush green meadows, meandering slopes etc.Besides, the climatic conditions of various Himalayan and Sub Himalayan regions are such as favour the natural and luxuriant growth of various herbs and shrubs having medicinal importance. What is required is the use of this valuable resource to the optimum capacity. Various pastures and hills in the Jammu Division as well as in Kashmir Division, such as Seoz Dhar, Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Sanasar etc have rare herbs and shrubs which need to be explored and researched for their rare medicinal importance.Similarly, research also needs to be conducted on the medicinal plants such as amla, tulsi, pudina aloe vera etc which have traditionally been used as medicines for various ailments.The farmers too need to be provided training and guidance in growing herbs and shrubs and provided the facility of marketing to boost the local economy and provide employment to the unemployed youth.The fact that the Board has experts and professionals from different Departments will definitely give a boost towards the research and exploration of various herbs and shrubs and fruitful results will come out.
Ashok Sharma
Housing Colony, Udhampur.
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