KISHTWAR: The AYUSH Department today organised a District Level Seminar on ‘Scope, Development and Promotion of Medicinal Plants as Alternative Source of Employment here in the Conference Hall of DC Office Complex.
On the Directions of the Directorate of Ayush UT of J&K, J&K Medicinal Plants Board, District Nodal Office Ayush Kishtwar organized the Seminar.
The seminar was attended by progressive farmers from across the District. The event was graced with the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner Pawan Kotwal, as the Chief Guest.
District Treasury Officer, Mohammad Yaseen Wani, Assistant Director, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Shafkat Lone, Chief Agriculture Officer, Amjad Hussain Malik & Divisional Forest Officer, Vijay Kumar were among the special guests.
Dr. Wahid ul Hassan Technical Officer, J&K Medicinal Plants Board was invited as Resource Person.
The seminar started with a bouquet presentation and followed by the welcome address and a brief outlay of Ayush Department by District Nodal Officer Ayush Dr Vikram Singh Jamwal.
The Chief Guest emphasised the importance of rallying farmers towards cultivating and promoting alternative medicinal plants as a viable income source. He highlighted the potential of AYUSH as an alternative medicine system and urged stakeholders to seize entrepreneurial opportunities in the medicinal plant cultivation sector.
Chief Agriculture Officer and DFO praised the event and assured full cooperation of their Departments in establishing Herbals Gardens and conserving Medicinal Plants.
The Resource Person gave the participants detailed information regarding Cultivation and Marketing of Medicinal Plants such as Ashwagandha, Kutki, Kuth, Pooshkarmool, etc as alternative sources of income for farmers.
A Progressive farmer, Jabir Singh while promoting the importance of Medicinal Plants stated that he has expanded the cultivation of some medicinal plants like Burberry in about 600 Kanals in three Districts -Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban. He urged the other farmers to start cultivation of Medicinal Plants.
The vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Taraq Hussain.