Buyer-seller meet of traditional plant growers organized at KJP Conference Centre

A Reporter

SHILLONG: A daylong buyer and seller meet of traditional medicinal plant growers and practitioner was held at the KJP Assembly Conference Centre here on Friday.

The meet, inaugurated by CP Marak, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Meghalaya, was organized by the Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, East Khasi Hills, under the aegis of the Meghalaya State Medicinal Plants Board, Forest and Environment Department in association with the National Medicinal Plants board, New Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, Marak said that the practice of traditional healing and traditional medicine in biodiversity-rich State of Meghalaya is as old as the hills itself.

In order to boost the activities of traditional medicinal plant growers and practitioners, Marak reiterated the need for standardization of packaging of medicinal plants. He also said that the post-harvest handling of any part of the medicinal plants needs to be improved.

Post-harvest handling, whether through technological intervention or proper grading, should be initiated so that the purity and potency of the ingredient which makes for the actually potency of the medicinal properties, can be maintained.

While pointing out that the weakest link for farmers is the lack of market linkages, Marak stressed on the responsibility of the government through the medicinal boards to improve marketing link-ups for the benefit of farmers. He also stressed on the importance of perpetuating knowledge of traditional medicinal plants for the benefit of future generations.

Earlier RS Gill, CEO, Meghalaya State Medicinal Plants Board, gave the welcome address. The programme was followed by technical sessions which were conducted by resource persons from the National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of Biotechnology, University of Madras, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat and Regional Cum Felicitation Centre –North Earth Region.

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