Shri Bhupender Yadav attends Buyer-Seller Meet among Farmer Bodies, Industries and State/UT Government held in Gujarat

Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment, Shri Bhupender Yadav attended a  program for the “Buyer-Seller Meet among Farmer Bodies, Industries and State/UT Government on challenges faced and way” which included discussion on Medicinal Plants Cultivation and Supply Chain Management  held today at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.  Minister of State, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Women & Child Development, Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai also attended the event. The Ministers released region specific medicinal plants booklet, poster on R&D achievements and poster on Supply Chain Management at the event.

Shri Bhupender Yadav  appreciated the views of all the experts and efforts of NMPB to bring the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) on one platform to discuss and deliberate the issues of medicinal plants.

Shri Yadav noted  that in India, population residing in the fringe area of the forests depends on forest for their livelihood. So, in order to have the effective conservation of the forest resources, these local people must fulfill their means of livelihood. A training module may be prepared to educate the local people residing in the adjoining forest areas for sustainably collecting the minor forest produce, he insisted.

The Minister stressed that  our ancient literature, time & method of collection and part of collection etc. of medicinal plants  should be well documented in order to benefit the humanity.

Shri Bhupender Yadav highlighted that an important issue is to know about the active component/ingredient of medicinal plants to maintain the quality which should be addressed. Since, demand & supply of medicinal plants depends on market, a meeting may be organized with the officials of State Forest Departments for effectively development of medicinal plant resources and make them available in sustainable manner, he added.

The Minister also informed that an amendment on Biological Diversity Act is under process and it would be beneficial for farmers and industries.

Panel discussion on  faced and way forward  on Medicinal Plants Cultivation and Supply Chain Management along with Buyer-Seller Meet among Farmer Bodies, Industries and State/UT Government was organised by NMPB at Mahatama Mandir, Gujarat.

Speakers from the concerned ministries especially from Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change , Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,  APEDA  and Industry  participated in the panel discussion and shared their views for the effective and holistic promotion of herbal sector in the country. The panel discussion was chaired by the secretary DONER who appreciated the initiative of NMPB for bringing various stakeholders at one platform for the holistic development of the sector.

The event was attended by more than 500 delegates.

To facilitate marketing of medicinal plants, more than 50 MoUs were signed between Industry and Farmer Bodies with the concerted efforts of SMPBs and RCFCs under the guidance from NMPB.

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