Income of farmers cultivating medicinal plants could be doubled via improved technologies: ICAR DG

As per Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Director General, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), the farmers cultivating medicinal plants need to be supported through technological interventions to improve their livelihood

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Mumbai: Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) laid foundation stone for the Residential Quarters at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), Anand, Gujarat.

Addressing the scientists and staff, Dr Mohapatra emphasized the need to develop technologies for doubling the income of the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) cultivating farmers in the country at Anand. He also emphasized to complete the value chain of important medicinal and aromatic plants to ensure more income to the farmers.

Dr N C Patel, Vice Chancellor, Anand Agricultural University (AAU), Anand speaking on this occasion said that, there is a need for partnerships in the development and promotion of medicinal and aromatic plants. He also appraised the recent achievements of All India Co-ordinated research project on medicinal, aromatic and Betelvine (AICRP-MAP&B) centre located AAU, Anand.

Dr T Janakiram, ADG (HS), ICAR, New Delhi, speaking on this occasion said that medicinal and aromatic plants play key role in livelihood security of tribal farmers besides health security. He said that there is need for establishment of referral labs for ensuring the quality of raw drugs in the country.

Earlier, Dr Jitendra Kumar, Director, ICAR-DMAPR welcomed the DG and other dignitaries and gave an overview of the Directorate. Dr T Radhakrishna, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research (DGR), Junagadh, Gujarat, Heads and Joint Directors of ICAR organisations in Gujarat, AAU, Anand, scientists and staff of DMAPR, Anand, the print and visual media were present.

Dr P Manivel, Principal Scientist, ICAR-DMAPR proposed the vote of thanks in the end.