Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010255171000.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Farming of medicinal plants stressed

Special Correspondent

GUNTUR: The modern society is not taking any interest in tribal medicine hence, its composition and usage is being overlooked, said Botany professor Koppula Hemadri.

He was speaking at the two-day national seminar on ‘Survey, utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants’ organised by the Department of Botany at J.K.C College here. The seminar concluded on Wednesday.

Prof. Hemadri added that awareness about tribal medicine must be created among people so that they could utilise the tribal methods of curing diseases. He suggested that this study of medicinal plants should be recognised as “system of tribal medicine”.

The CIMAP in-charge scientist B.R Rajeswara Rao from Hyderabad explained that medicinal and aromatic plants and the products made from these plants have national and international demand.

A number of Indian medicinal plants had become endangered, which forced the Government of India to ban export of these products. It is economically important to cultivate medicinal plants, he said, explaining opportunities and advantages of cultivating medicinal plants.

The Government Ayurvedic College, Vijayawada, Head of Dravyaguna Department explained about the indigenous herbal research and said that according to the W.H.O about 80 per cent of population in developing countries relies on traditional medicine, mostly plant drugs.