State can be developed as herbal state: Paul

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 4

Governor KK Paul during his visit to Herbal Research and Development Institute at Gopeshwar in Chamoli district said there was a great scope of developing Uttarakhand as a herbal state.

He said hill farmers could get a substantial source of livelihood by adopting cultivation of aromatic plants. The scenario in the state could be changed by preserving and boosting the growth of medicinal and aromatic plants and promoting industries based on them. The Governor said the institute could help greatly in this target.

Scientific techniques of cultivation, training farmers and developing the distribution system were required so that people could be self-employed in the hill areas and migration to the plains could be checked.

The Governor said advanced techniques should be made available to farmers. He said farmers must be informed about fertilisers and encouraged to adopt medicinal herb and aromatic plants cultivation.

“More output is required and also the quality has to be improved to make commercial use of the herbs. Scientists should visit the fields and be in touch with farmers,” said the Governor.

He went around all five units of the institute and its nursery and obtained detailed information about them At his meeting with officials and staff of the institute, the Governor took information about problems related to the budgeting, nursery, distribution and staff.

He said the institute should keep making efforts to increase production and expand its commercial activities. He gave several suggestions for strengthening the institute and hoped that improvements would follow his visit. Local people and farmers also met the Governor and told him about the problems of the institute. The Governor planted medicinal saplings on the institute premises.

Later, he held a meeting with the district administration regarding the arrangements of the Char Dham Yatra, roads being built in the border area, and disaster management, especially during an earthquake.

He said the communication system should be kept in good condition. “As this is a seismic region, quake- resistant houses and buildings must be built. First aid should be available during any natural disaster,” he said.