Saturday, 22 May 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Directs officials to expedite work on industrial hemp & medicinal cannabis policies
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat said that within the next six months, a high tech nursery should be established and work should be expedited for policies on industrial hemp, medicinal cannabis and aroma park. The CM said that herbal products should be encouraged along with agriculture and horticulture in order to increase the income of farmers. To encourage herbal products, public awareness should be raised while also providing relevant training to people. He said this while reviewing the works of Herbal Research and Development Institute (HRDI) Gopeshwar and Centre for Aromatic Plants (CAP) Selaqui here on Friday.
Rawat said that special focus should be laid on how farmers can be helped apart from providing them quality planting material. Clusters of different herbs suited to local geographical conditions should be developed in different parts of the state. Reviewing the HRDI, the CM directed officials to encourage some major products. A few such products should be selected which can lend an identity to Uttarakhand in the nation. A marketing plan should also be prepared for the purpose. He said that results of such efforts should be visible within six months. Rawat said that with the help of AYUSH department, HRDI should set up an herbal healing and wellness centre. While reviewing CAP, the CM said that many of the centre’s 109 clusters can also be used for HRDI. Special focus should be laid on value chain management in both HRDI and CAP, he said.
Officials informed in the meeting that 21,000 farmers are linked with CAP. Among the 109 clusters developed by CAP, land rehabilitation, cultivation of Damask rose as a boundary crop, cultivation of Japanese mint as mixed farming, encouraging Tejpaat as a forestry crop and other activities have been undertaken. The officials further informed that 26,000 farmers are linked with HRDI. Three centres have been formed for monitoring research and development of herbs in the border districts of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi. The institute has also developed six herbal teas for technical transfer. It is also conducting research and development activity for developing 100 medicinal products. The State’s Agriculture and Horticulture minister Subodh Uniyal, the CM’s chief advisor Shatrughna Singh, the CM’s principal advisor RBS Rawat, additional chief secretary Manisha Panwar and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.
