SKUAST-K, NMPB and Forest Div Leh distribute Medicinal Planting material to Farmers in Sakti

LEH: The Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre, Northern Region-II (RCFC NR-II) of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and the Forest Division Leh, distributed quality planting material of medicinal plant species among Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) members at Sakti to promote sustainable cultivation and strengthen rural livelihoods.

The distribution programme, held on July 13 under a project funded by the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, focused on encouraging the cultivation of high-value medicinal plants suited to the region’s cold arid agro-climatic conditions.

Planting material of Inula racemosa, Bergenia ciliata, Achillea millefolium and Saussurea costus was provided free of cost to BMC members to support the expansion of medicinal plant cultivation and enhance income opportunities for clusters of farmers in the area.

The initiative is aimed at promoting the sustainable production of medicinal plant species while creating alternative livelihood avenues for farming communities through the cultivation of commercially valuable herbs adapted to Ladakh’s unique ecological conditions.

The programme was attended by members of Biodiversity Management Committees, farmers, scientists from the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB), officials of the Forest Division Leh and staff of RCFC NR-II, who highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts in promoting medicinal plant cultivation and conserving valuable biological resources.

The collaborative initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to encourage sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation and livelihood diversification in the Union Territory through the scientific cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.