It’s not every
day that you get to hear something good and positive from North East India – an
underdeveloped region where dozens of armed insurgent groups are fighting the
government, demanding separate states. Today, however, is an exception because,
I just learned of something that is worth a thousand smiles: the
government of Tripura, the smallest state in the region, has decided to encourage cultivation of
medicinal plants and rare herbs among locals.
“If successfully implemented, the new plan
would boost the economy of the state,” says a press statement by Tripura Forest
Development and Plantation Corporation (TFDPC). According to the statement, TFDPC
would begin by giving financial and technical support to the locals for
cultivating Kalmegh (Andrigraphis Paniculata) and Shatamuli (Asparagus
Recemosus Wild).
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| Shatamuli or Asparagus Recemosus Wild, a herb used to revitalize female reproductive organs, cure gastrointestinal disorders and as an external wash for wounds. |
India has, of late, seen great growth in its herbal
industry. According to
the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the herbal industry is
currently worth INR 7,500,crore (approx $2 billion) and set to reach Rs.15,000
crore (approx $4 billion) by 2015. The growth has increased the demand of herbs and medicinal plants
manifold. For example, a kg of Shatamuli seeds now fetches about INR 4,000 in
the market.
