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| Bot. Sheikh Gulzaar |
The Jammu and KashmirMedicinal Plants Introduction Centre Was
established in 1992 in Azizabad colony , Pampore in Pulwama , by botanist Sheikh Gulzaar
and Dr Sheikh Rafiya Basheer and Masrat Gulzaar along with Sheikh Ashraf . The family run
institution clocked an annual turnover of Rs. 17 to 19 lakhs in 2012-13.It
produces a range of organic based high value fruit plants, including Corylus avellana, Lycium barbarum , Actinidiadeliciosa, medicinal plants of Angelica glauca, Ginkgo biloba, Aesculus indica,
Arctium lappa , Artemisia absinthium, Asparagus officinalis, Atropa acumiata,
Atropa belladoona, Bixa orellana, Buxus wallichiana, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium,Cichorium intybus, Colchium luteum, Digitalis purpurea, Ferulaasafoetida, Gmelina arborea, Hyoscyamus niger, Inula racemosa, Lavatera cashmeriana, Marrubium vulgare ,Medicago sativa,Melasia officinalis, Taxus bacatta and Viola odorata. More details: http://jkmpic.blogspot.in
Main Markets : The institution mainly supplies its products to Mumbai,Delhi and Banglore.They also export Taxus bacatta ,Viola odorata , Bixa orellana fruit and medicinal seeds to North America. “ We exported Ginkgo biloba to Pakistan and are also planning to export to Gulf countries next year,” says Sheikh Gulzaar, adding, “ Our medicinal seed production capacity is 200-500 kg per year.”
Manpower : There are two technicians with high school qualification working in the production of plants. We have two plant introduction centers, one in Ramban and one in Kishtwar ,managed by M.Sc biotechnology with 5 regular employees, maintains Sheikh Gulzaar.
Milestones: The institution plans to do
large scale production of fruit and medicinal plants at Pampore in the
future.``We have also introduced this year ready –to-use medicinal plants
alongwith fruit plants,” says Sheikh Gulzaar. He is wellknown botanist and has 21+ years experience and research
& development in medicinal plants
and is interested to meet the expectations and needs of the nation. Not only
the said The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre is working
in the country but throughout the world its research is going on. Sheikh Gulzaar has spent most of his life on Himalayan mountains, footsteps and river
banks while he was travelling for the project.
Head and botanist Sheikh Gulzaar said that Medicinal plants are having a good demand not only in the
country but abroad also. “Buy cultivating such plants the institution has till
date provided such plants to about 34 thousand research institutions,
individuals”. This way it has helped the researchers but has provided such
plants to them time to time. “Institution has earned a good fame in the country
as well as has given training to so many unemployed and educated youth of the
country hence in this way they are able to earn their livelihood”. He said.
Jammu & Kashmir
Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre proudly announce its affiliation with Organic Farming Association of India, Jammu & Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction
Centre is the first institution from J&K to get recognized and listed in Biology
for NEET & Other Medical Entrance Examinations 3rd Edition.
See systematic : P/No. 37..List of Botanical Gardens in India
The institution has received
about 7,880 applications since 1994 for giving full descriptions regarding such
plants as well as identity, birth, botanical information and family structure
of such plants and its benefits as well as “we have been given letter of
originty, Phytosanitary information & letter of authenticity , with the
result such fellows have been absolutely helped in carrying over their research forward”. Sheikh Gulzaar added.
As we know, Kashmir is one
of the cold region of Himalaya and the season of valley is not trustworthy here
remains, cold temperature, snowfall with the result the public are suffering and every year huge losses are being faced by us as well as research job
is also being affected, “Due to
non-availability of high-tech green houses, so many valuable plants dies due to
extensive heat or cold and we requested so many
times to Government to provide us proper place near high altitude so that we
may be able to cultivate other countries
medicinal , wild flowers and fruit plants here also” he added.
“I have also secured hundreds of seeds from
Europe, Middle East and Africa and have planted them in different areas and
have obtained seeds from them as well as medicines, but it is difficult as the
said seeds are only being sowing in such areas where the atmosphere will be
neat and clean. Said Sheikh Gulzaar
Sheikh Gulzaar further added
that Government of Jammu and Kashmir is not helping us. “Till date government
of Jammu and Kashmir has not helped us in any way, we have got on lab or other
high-tech facilities so that our job will become easy”,
Research institutions,
Universities and organizations should identify the problems of our agriculture;
we lack the speed in all situations.
He further added that we are
dependent upon organic fertilizers i.e. biomass, peat, manure plant leaves,
tree barks but to obtain such items “we have to work hard as such the public is
not hesitating to purchase our seeds and our target remains always upon such
medicinal plants which is having demand in the market for ever”.
“Threat is not the
availability of the fertile land but current tendency to go away from
agriculture and converting the land for other proposes. He said “Lack of direct access to
market place, involvement of the middle man and lack of man power due to the
younger generation choosing other professions for better marginal & small
farmers.” He said
To invest for upliftment of
J&K “We have to make focus on Kashmir Himalaya for cultivating such plants
to obtain medicines” which can be used for Cancer disease also and second main
focus will be Food Technology as our country is presently facing heavy danger
of Cancer and shortage of food.
A Medicinal Plant Conservation Area- The main aim of Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Cente's are to conserve the medicinal plants in its natural habitat and preserve its gene pool. JKMPIC is a stretch of natural vegetation having within it various types of habitat and microclimates. They are established in different biogeographic zones in co operation with the State Forest Departments. JKMPIC programme is a national effort, exclusively to study the medicinal plants in the natural habitats and to develop strategies for management of rare endangered and vulnerable species.(Writer-South Asia)
