Herbal garden to come up in Silk city Berhampur

A herbal garden showcasing major medicinal plants available in the State will come up in the Berhampur city. Plan of this herbal garden came to the fore during the inauguration of Kalinga herbal fair 2012 in the city on Wednesday. Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy and member secretary of State Medicinal Plant Board (SMPB) R.P. Mallik attended the programme as guests. Mr. Mallik said market for medicinal plant products in the State was around Rs. 150 crore per year. He said that plans were on to form four producers’ companies involving Vana Surakshya Samities (VSS) to streamline trading of these valuable plant products. These companies, to be established under the Companies Act, were planned to be established in Berhampur, Baripada, Bolangir, and Koraput. The herbal fair is being held in the city for the fifth time. Earlier it was held for three days but this year due to public demand it was extended to five days, said Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) S.S. Mishra. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Mishra said amount was allocated for the proposed herbal garden in the city. Suitable land for the purpose was being earmarked. He also said that efforts were also being made to promote plantation of medicinal plants in the city. A nursery was started to produce at least 50,000 saplings of various medicinal plants. These saplings would be ready by July next year. These saplings would be distributed for plantation to the inhabitants of Berhampur and its periphery. The medicinal plants which would be promoted through this include Tundapoda, Pasaruni, Rakta Chandan, Satabari, Ashoka, and Amla.

Fifty stalls by producers of herbal products from different parts of the State were opened in the fair. During the fair, free ayurveda health check-up would be provided by traditional vaidyas and modern ayurveda experts. There would be yoga camp every morning and experts would provide lectures on health care and herbal remedies in the evening. Source: The Hindu