NABARD to develop medicinal plants in Sikkim

source:iSikkim

KHAMDUNG, EAST SIKKIM: NABARD is making efforts to utilize the vast potential of Sikkim in medicinal plantations and therefore sanctioning Skill Development Programmes for cultivation of various medicinal plants like Aloe Vera,
Tulsi, Turmeric, Satavari, Chitu, Pakhanved, Dhaturo, Bojo, and Akh etc. to provide
Opportunities for additional income to the farmers engaged in agriculture and employment generation to rural youth and unemployed people in the villages restricting their migration to the urban areas. There is lot of demand of Medicinal Plants not only in India but also in various countries of world as these are being utilised by practitioners of Allopathy, Ayurved, Naturopathy, Unani, Homeopathy and others. Shri Om Prakash Assistant General Manager, NABARD expressed as a Chief Guest during a Skill Development Programme valediction organised by Holistic Medicinal Promotion and Allied Education in village Khamdung, East Sikkim with
the support of NABARD which was held recently.

Shri Prakash AGM said that banks loan disbursement increased from Rs.170.08 lakh in 2007- 08 to Rs.295.89 lakh in 2009-10 in plantation and horticulture sector in Sikkim State and NABARD has planned to increase it upto Rs.1364.96lakh by 2011-12 by increasing awareness, motivation, coordination with NGOs, banks, government agencies, farmers and others and intensifying various Skill Development Programmes to extensively contribute towards achieving various mission and goals of the Sikkim State, Reserve Bank of India and Government of India.

He said that by starting cultivation of various medicinal plants, the trainees would ensure extensive utilisation of natural resources of the state, improve their own income, contribute towards eradication of unemployment, improve their own health and therefore can play great role in integrated development. Shri Om Prakash also stressed the need for quality production of various medicinal plants by using High Yielding Varieties, other best methods and practices learned by the participants during their three weeks training programme by experts and share their experiences with each other and representatives of Holistic Medicinal Promotion and Allied Education to ensure timely guidance, help and other support. While interacting with the participants, he advised them to approach the banks branches in case of need for bank finance on individual, Self Help Group or Joint Liability Group basis. NABARD AGM had also indicated that production and supplying of high quality medicinal plants to the processing units would also lead towards checking and removal of various kinds of dreaded diseases like depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, paralysis, insomnia, pain related problems and skin diseases etc. and therefore people involved in it would also be contributing towards social development of the society. Active involvement of the skilled people in such activities would motivate others to adopt such ventures. At the endofthe programme certificates were awarded by the Chief guest to all the participants.

Sh. Arun Pradhan Chief Coordinator, Holistic Medicinal Promotion and Allied Education gave vote of thanks. The programme was also attended by the representatives of Panchayat