SRINAGAR: In a significant step towards promoting Medicinal Plant Sector in J&K by conservation and cultivation of Medicinal Plants, Regional Cum Facilitation Centre (RCFC) NR-Il of NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH, Gol organised a one-day seminar on ‘Conservation, Cultivation, Processing and Entrepreneurship Development in Medicinal Plants' in collaboration with Department of Pharmacology, Govt. Unani Medical College Ganderbal.

The Seminar was attended by faculty, students and other staff members of Govt. Unani Medical College Ganderbal.

The inaugural session of the Seminar was attended by Prof. Sheikh Bilal Ahmed, (Regional Director, RCFC); Nodal Officer, Administrative Officer, Accounts Officer and Dr. Aasiy-ul-Erum, In-Charge Department of Pharmacology.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof .Sheikh Bilal described J&K as a treasure house of Medicinal herbs and stressed on conservation and cultivation of Medicinal Plants to develop more and more entrepreneurship avenues. He emphasized that the demand for medicinal plants is growing with every passing year and the world is looking forward towards Himalayan region to fulfill the increasing demand.

He expressed his desire that more such programs will be organized in the future in collaboration with Govt. Unani Medical College Ganderbal.

The program highlights were presented by Prof .Sheikh Bilal Ahmed (Regional Director, RCFC); Dr. Mudasir Ahmad Dar, (Dy. Director RCFC SKUAST); Dr Tariq Rahim, Associate Professor Department of Ilmul-Saidla and Dr. Sabha Shafi, Assistant Professor Department of Ilmul-Advia.

Earlier, Dr. Aasiy-ul-Erum, gave a brief introduction of the program.

Nodal Officer, Dr. Shabeer Ahmad Gaffari discussed the main Challenges being faced today in this field like Habitat Loss, Over Harvesting, Climatic Change and need for improved cultivation techniques. He added that successful cultivation of medicinal plants depends upon soil quality, light intensity, temperature and water availability etc.

During the seminar the experts from RCFC (SKUAST) and Govt. Unani Medical College Ganderbal highlighted the ways and importance of Conservation, Cultivation, Processing and Entrepreneurship Development in Medicinal plant sectors both in -situ and Ex-situ habitats.