Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 18: The J&K Forest Contractors Association (JKFCA), has termed the decision of the J&K Government to establish Mandis for aromatic and medicinal plants trade in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Association in its meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Sanjay Gupta, president, appreciated the decision taken by the Task Force Committee for Aromatic and Medicinal Plants under Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry and Cooperatives Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary to set up Mandis for the trade of aromatic and medicinal plants, which has a great potential here. It would further enhance the earnings of the farmers, he said.
Gupta sought a policy in this regard and said that it should be introduced in J&K for the investment of entrepreneurs to facilitate the growers and stake holders involved in this sector in rural and semir urban areas. He welcomed the major steps taken in the meeting of the Task Force.
The Association further appealed to the CEO State Medicinal Plants Board to encourage the farmers by organizing awareness camps for the development of aromatic and medicinal plants cultivation schemes in high altitude and plain areas of entire J&K to eradicate stagnation in agriculture activity which resulted diversion of farmers and migration to cities for earning as not yielded from agriculture sector. The UT of J&K have a large potential in aromatic and medicinal plants which can bring very good income to the farmers.
Raja Bashir Ahmed and ML Bhagat, senior members termed this decision as very good move in favour of farmers and said that potential of the area should be explored fully. It will enhance the productivity of MFP and herbs etc besides other aromatic plants used in the Pharma industry. They said the Government should come out with schemes to encourage farmers.
The Association expected a package in the shape of policy for MFPs (Minor Forest Produce), from the Lt Governor, G C Murmu to generate employment in this trade/ industry of extraction of MFP from demarcated forests of J&K.
Follow our WhatsApp channel