Seventh Herbal Garden inaugurated at Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur| June 11
A 5 hectare herbal garden was inaugurated by the Minister for Forest, Ecology and Wildlife, MC Konyak, at the Rangapahar Zoological Park in Dimapur today. This is the seventh herbal garden inaugurated this year under the ‘Year of Plantation.’
Architect of the herbal garden and Chief Conservator of Forest, T Lotha, pointed out that
The herbal garden is a part of the government’s plan to tap the enormous herbal plant species in the state. Although Nagaland has divergent medicinal plants species, most of them have not been identified, Lotha said. Though still in its infant stage, the government is trying to promote and encourage herbal plantation across the state, he added.
Lotha aid that the government is currently tying up with a Bangalore based NGO to identify and categorise plant species. It has also tied up with SASARD in identifying plants and so far 600 species have been identified. The government is also contemplating approaching local herbalist to promote herbal medicines in the state, and identify potential areas to promote herbal medicine plantation, he added.
Amidst the plans the government has for promoting medicinal plants, the state is faced with lack of processing and marketing facilities. Lotha said that the state does not have agro-technology for medicinal plants, no nursery protocol or plantation techniques, due to which it is still depend dent on outside elements. He said that the only option right now is for the government to tap resources which already have marketing outlets. The government is looking to identify market potential herb species, Lotha added.
Lotha also lamented that although Nagaland is endowed with natural resources, the conservation status is also not known by the people nor has the department been able to identify most of the species of herbal plants.
Emphasising on the need for conservation of the state’s eco-system, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Wildlife, MC Konyak said that Nagas have put everything into extinction.
Konyak, while discouraging logging and jhuming activities in the state, said that it is high time the people understood the consequences of their actions. He said that it is an alarming state of affairs and environmental issues need to be addressed properly.
Konyak also pointed out that the government is also trying to setup more herbal gardens across the state.
Later, as part of the ‘year of plantation’ programme, a plantation drive was carried out at the zoological park. Eco club students from different schools and the Minister with department officials took part in planting trees.
