Herbal and Medicinal plants grow naturally in forests of Tripura. In addition, the Medicinal Plants Board of Tripura conducts cultivation of Herbal and Medicinal Plants under different Central Government Schemes, said the Minister of Forest department.
Several steps have been taken by the Government to expand the area under herbal and medicinal plants – even spaces available at educational institutions are also planned to bring under the plantation.
The Minister also said, the Medicinal Plants Board of Tripura chalked out a 5-year long plan for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 to bring 650 hectare land under the Herbal and Medicinal Plants cultivation in the State.
The plan started through Resource Augmentation of some important medicinal plants of Tripura scheme under the Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants (CSS-CDSMMP).
Target for 2021-22 was set to cultivate Herbal and Medicinal Plants in 250 hectare land – out of which 165 hectare land could be brought under the targeted plantations.
The State Government has taken several other steps to expand the area under the Herbal and Medicinal Plants in Tripura.
For the preservation and development of medicinal plants, five areas/centers will be prepared. Increase cultivation of Herbal and Medicinal plants under the Central Schemes.
The Government is also planning to set up Herbal gardens at Schools as well as in residences. Besides, initiatives are under process for conservation and preservation of medicinal plants by local traditional Kabiraj (Herbal practitioners) and setting up of medicinal gardens for preparing traditional medicines by sustainable utilization of resources.
The Union Government has also accorded importance on herbal and medicinal plants as the Ayush Ministry has geared up to popularize Ayurvedic treatment across the country. Recently, Ayush Ministry signed an agreement with the WHO to this end.
