Medicinal plants: Nichar nursery leads the way

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By: DD Sharma

Rekong Peo: A little known village in Kinnaur is leading the state in cultivation of medicinal plants. At least seventeen species of medicinal plants are being cultivated successfully in a forest nursery at Nichar here, which has now also raised expectations among local people and has heralded a new chapter of enhanced livelihood in the cold temperate zone. And all this has become possible due to the tireless efforts of two persons – range officer Roshan Lal Dhangal and forest guard Udham Singh. Following their hard work, cultivation of medicinal plants is fast emerging as an alternative livelihood option in the higher reaches here.
Many medicinal plants grow naturally in the higher reaches of our state, and local people have for ages been collecting them either for their personal use or to earn a livelihood. But, over the years, overexploitation and unscientific harvesting led to many of these plants becoming extinct or hard to find. Realising this fact, the forest department felt an urgent need for conservation of these medicinal plants and thus started programmes for creating public awareness regarding cultivation practices on private land. Under this programme, medicinal plants were grown in government nurseries and then distributed among people for further cultivation. But the task has not been easy for the officials as there is death of persons who have knowledge about these plants.

But Roshan Lal Dhangal and Udham Singh have been able to locate and grow some very rare herbs with medicinal properties, which otherwise were no longer being used in even traditional medicines because of non-availabililiy. “Since we knew the area, we were in a position to trek around in search of these herbs,” said Roshan Lal. The nursery at Nichar is spread over an area of one-and-a-half hectares, wherein 16,000 saplings of medicinal plants and one lakh saplings of broadleaves and coniferous plants have been raised. And the whole credit for success of this experimental medicinal plants nursery goes to the strenuous efforts put in by Roshan Lal and Udham Singh in 2003-2004.

Some extremely valuable medicinal plants like Salam panja, Bankakri, Patish and Kurru etc. have been grown here successfully, which not promise to provide livelihood opportunities to people living in the cold temperate areas. The details of medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic preparations that are being cultivated in this nursery is as follows: Salam panja, Van kakkari, Mohra, Chukhari, Buchbare, Rattan jot, Kuddu, Salam misari, Chora, Patish, Kuth, Dhatura, Ban ajvayan, Pashan Bhed, Safed musali, Dhoop and Singani mingan,etc.

These plants also grow naturally in the temperate zone of Himalayas and slopes of rocky portions of valleys. Different species of these medicinal plants can be easily cultivated at an altitude ranging from 2,500 meters to 4,800 meters above mean sea level in Kinnaur, Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Lahaul & Spiti and Kangra.
Another factor that favours cultivation of these plans is that during summer season there is a trend in tribal areas to shift to temporary houses called dogaris, dhars, tappris, ete, located at higher altitudes where climatic conditions are extremely favorable for medicinal plant cultivation. Now these tribals can add to their income by growing such medicinal plants while they are up in the mountains with their animals.

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15 COMMENTS

  1. Dear Sir,

    We are Stockists and suppliers of various rare herbs since 1957 and are looking forward to cultivate various herbs and give our support and feedback in cultivation of herbs.

    You will appreciate us as your regular buyer of various herbs.

    Please inform listy of herbs you are cultivating at present.

    Manish Gupta

    Himalaya Herb Stores

    01, Madhav Nagar

    Saharanpur 247 001 (U.P.)

    0132 2661695

    +91 9412131172

    himalayaherb@rediffmail.com

  2. Dear Sir,

    We are stockists and exporters of Medicinal Herbs , seaweeds , seeds since 1957 and are especially dealing in rare herbs.

    We are interested in various herbs from different parts of country.

    Please kindly inform us list of herbs you can supply to us. Please also note you will appreciate us as your regular buyer of various herbs.

    We assure you of our best co-operation at all times and looking forward to your valuable early reply.

    Thanking you in anticipation.

    Regards,

    For HIMALAYA HERB STORES.

    MANISH K. GUPTA

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    HIMALAYA HERB STORES

    POST BOX 130 , 01, MADHAV NAGAR

    SAHARANPUR-247 001(U.P.) INDIA

    PHONE 0091 132 2661695

    e-mail : himalayaherb@sancharnet.in

    himalayaherb@rediffmail.com

    Herbs since 1957

  3. We are dealing in herbs & requiring high altitude origin herbs,We can provide all the techincal imputs to interested local people in farming under buyback arrangement.

    Thanks Dr. arvind kumar

  4. I HAVE GREAT INTEREST IN NATURAL PURE HERBS. THIS IS MY PASSION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS BEING CULTIVATED . PERHAPS IT MAY BE OF GREAT USE FOR ME AND HUMANITY . I CAN BUY THEM ALSO

  5. HI Manish and Dr. Arvind..

    If you wouild like to get in touch over email. That woould be nice.

    We deal in above said medicinal herbs in the above said regions.

    My email ID is tsephel@gmail.com

  6. we want to make a herbal garden for dhyan foundation.could you organize the land and also develop it with all kinds of herbs?Kindly let us know the land prices and your charges separately.

  7. dear sir, i am a keen gardner. i have land at Churvadhar( 6500 ft ht), Rajgarh, distt Sirmaur. HP. Where I want to develope a herb and medicinal garden. could you please let me know if yo could supply me with plants and instructions on how to nurture them as well as their details of use etc.

    kindly also indicate the cost for all varieties of plants to be planted in about 1200 sq yards of area only.

    i would really appreciate your help and guidance in this.

    with regards.Psyche Nigam. 3.05.09

  8. We are looking cultivated Podophyllum in bulk. Pl inform if available or any growing.
    With regards
    Dr.Arvind

  9. i m looking for medicinal plants like shankhpuspi, brahmi, neer brahmi, ashwagandha, to grow at home, can you help me in that. regards preety

  10. Dear All,
    I am from neemuch, madhya pradesh.
    Neemuch is center for various medicinal herbs and spices.
    We have brokerage business and planting material supply business inland for all the medicinal herbs and aromatic plants special ashwgandha, tukmaria, asparagus, sarpgandha etc. Kindly revert if any of you want to purchase or need some guidance regarding plantation of root shoots or propagules.

  11. i want some medicinal plants for my research purpose. the plants are as follows:
    1.Dipterocarpus turbinatus(ashwakarna)
    2.Curculigo ochioides(kali musli)
    3.Casearia esculenta(saptarangi)
    4.ochrocarpus longifolius(surapunnag)
    5.Altingia excelsa(rasamala)

    please sir, kindly repond to my requirements

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