Cultivation of Medicinal Plants in India

India has 15 Agroclimatic zones and 17000-18000 species of flowering plants of which 6000-7000 are estimated to have medicinal usage in folk and documented systems of medicine, like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy.  About 960 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in trade of which 178 species have annual consumption levels in excess of 100 metric tones.

Medicinal plants are not only a major resource base for the traditional medicine & herbal industry but also provide livelihood and health security to a large segment of Indian population.  The domestic trade of the AYUSH industry is of the order of Rs. 80 to 90 billion (1US$ = Rs.50).  The Indian medicinal plants and their products also account of exports in the range of Rs. 10 billion.

There is global resurgence in traditional and alternative health care systems resulting in world herbal trade which stands at US$ 120 billion and is expected to reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050.  Indian share in the world trade, at present, however, is quite low.

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) set-up in November 2002 by the Government of India has the primary mandate of coordinating all matters relating to medicinal plants and support policies and programmes for growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation.  The Board is located in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy (AYUSH) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Medicinal plants play an important ROLE IN HUMAN LIFE TO COMBAT DISEASES SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. The rural folks and tribals in India even now depend largely on the surrounding plants/forests for their day-to-day needs. Medicinal plant are being looked upon not only as a source of health care but also as a source of income. The value of medicinal plants related trade in India is of the order of 5.5 billion US$ (Exim Report-1997) and is further increasing day-by-day. The international market of herbal products is estimated to be US $ 62 BILLION. India share in the global market of medicinal plants trade is less than 0.5%. In view of the innate Indian strengths, which include diverse eco-systems for growth of medicinal plants, technical/farming capacity, strong manufacturing sector, the medicinal plants sector can provide a huge export opportunity after fulfilling domestic needs.

The present e-book covers systematic account of most different plants with pictures used in medicines. It covers Medicinal Plants containing alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, additives and other active matabolites.

We hope that this e. book will be useful not only for technologists, professionals, but also for farmers, traders, students, NGOs, institutions, exporters and importers of Medicinal Plants.

The CD-based book costs Rs. 550/-

Payment: Demand Draft/IPO/MO only in favour of "International Information Resource Centre",
Mailing address: POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR Jammu and Kashmir 190001
Location of our Office: Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR J&K 192121
Ph:09858986794,01933-223705
e-mail:iirc@rediffmail.com
web: http://medicinalplantsdirectory.blogspot.com

PPP Chief Arrested from PPP Headquarter Rajbag today by State Police

Srinagar, March 12, 2010: The Flying Squad of J&K Police raided the PPP Headquarters, Rajbagh today and arrested the party Chairman Hilal Ahmed War. War’s arrest is seen as a preventive measure by the State police against a possible post-namaz rally that the Hurriyat (G) had announced. Chairman PPP, while endorsing Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call had urged the people to take to the streets and register a peaceful protest in the form of a rally. “People should come out in large numbers in response to Geelani Sahab’s call and protest peacefully,” said War. 

The PPP Chief has been lodged in Police Station Rajbagh. A party spokesperson condemned his arrest in strong words saying it amounted to State oppression and a denial of right to expression. “This highhandedness of the State shows the times we are living in. If one is not even allowed to demonstrate peacefully, it leaves a big void for violent demonstrations,” said the PPP Spokesman. Geelani and War had urged youths to make sure no stone-pelting incident occurred.(Writer-South Asia)

Ministry of Minorities in India released List of Scheemes

By: Sheikh Gulzaar

Srinagar: As the Indian Constitution is committed to the equality of citizens and prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. It is the responsibility of the state to preserve, protect and assure the rights of minorities. The United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of persons belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities enjoins states to protect the identity of such minorities within their respective territories and also to encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity. Appropriate emphasis is therefore required to be given to protect the interests of minorities and ensure that they do not lag behind in the progress and development of the society.

On 23-10-1993 Government has notified Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zorastrians (Parsis) as “the minority communities” under clause [C] of Section 2 of the NCM Act, 1992. The International Information Resource Centre has just released Database of Government Funding Schemes for NGOs/Institutions in CD-Rom/Print/e-mail edition.

This is a first database of its kind which covers all Government Financial Schemes in all the sectors including the policies, guidelines, Notifications, Circulars & Press Releases, Application Forms, Declarations, Specimens, and hundreds of schemes of Government of India.

The database of Government of India Schemes is a outcome of a survey of all Government Institutions and Departments during the last five years. Editor Sheikh Gulzaar from International Information Resource Centre and his colleagues have collected details of Government Funding Schemes.

Government at both Central and State levels encourages particulars of the NGO's in developmental and welfare activities. Certain approved programmes are implemented through NGO's. International Information Resource Centre has published 850 pages of e-book on the Government of India schemes and centrally sponsored schemes. The database of Government of India Schemes is an outcome of a survey of all Government Institutions and Departments during the last 3 years. More details:

International Information Resource Centre
Ist Street, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR J&K 192121, Contact person:
Ed. Sheikh Gulzaar, (Programme Incharge)
Ph: 09858986794, 01933-223705
E-mail: iirc@rediffmail.com
web : http://ngoinindia.blogspot.com

Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) Plants Development in Kashmir (India)

(Announcement) GREETINGS from far away Pampore.I’d like to tell readers about a very special man I have met here. His name is Ed. Sheikh GULZAAR.He is a plant breeder who collects rare and vanishing species of plants, herbs and spices. For the past 20 years he has devoted himself to developing many varieties of plants that can survive in difficult conditions. His one wish is to share his seeds of wild herbs and flowers with plant lovers elsewhere. He is happy to send seeds to all friends readers living in colder climates. Please write to: Mr. Sheikh GULZAAR PO Box 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001 THE STATE OF KASHMIR (Via New Delhi-India) e.mail: cikashmir@gmail.com http://www.chenabindustries.blogspot.com