Training Programme on Medicinal Plant-Based Interventions for Soil Health Enhancement and Sustainable Livelihoods Organised at ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata

23-24 March 2026, Narendrapur

A two-day training programme on “Intervention, Cultivation & Formulation Development of Medicinal Plants” was successfully organized by Sasya Shyamala KVK (RKMVERI), Narendrapur, in collaboration with the Natural Product Studies Division of Jadavpur University. The programme was aligned with the nationwide Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan Jan Abhiyan, integrating themes of soil health and sustainable cultivation.

The inaugural session on March 23 was graced by Pallab Kanti Haldar, Director, School of Natural Product Studies, Jadavpur University; Swagat Ghosh, Senior Scientist and Head, SSKVK; Salil Kumar Gupta, Joint Director and Emeritus Scientist (Retd.), Zoological Survey of India; and Subhalakshmi Ghosh, Founder and Director, Subhami Biopharma (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

In his valedictory address, Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, underscored that medicinal plant cultivation offers a viable pathway for realizing the objectives of the Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan Jan Abhiyan through enhanced soil health and sustainable land use. He emphasized that such low-input, climate-resilient crops improve soil fertility, reduce dependence on chemical inputs, and enable the productive utilization of degraded lands, while also fostering biodiversity conservation and strengthening farmers’ income and livelihood security.

Technical sessions comprehensively addressed government interventions, scientific cultivation practices, pest and disease management, industrial prospects, and formulation development of medicinal plants, while elaborating the package of practices with a special emphasis on integrated nutrient management.

In consonance with the objectives of the Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan Jan Abhiyan, the programme highlighted the critical importance of soil fertility enhancement, soil health management, and judicious fertilizer use.

During the valedictory session, Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, along with other senior officials reinforced these themes while underscoring the need to promote medicinal plant cultivation among farmers and stakeholders.

The programme witnessed active participation of more than 80 attendees.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)