Panel Discussion on “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research: A Way Forward”

1^st October, 2015, Anand

A panel discussion on “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research: A way forward” was organized by Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India (MAPAI) in association with ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, here today.

Prof. Harish Padh, Vice Chancellor, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar chaired the proceedings. He emphasized on need based research on conservation, cultivation, supply of quality raw material to the user industry, adulteration and substitution of MAPs and bio-fortification. He also stressed the need to document, verify and utilize the tribal based knowledge on medicinal and aromatic plants.

Dr. S.B. Dandin, Liaison Officer, Biodiversity International & Former Vice Chancellor, UHS, Bagalkot and co-chair highlighted the loss of biodiversity in MAPs and need for in situ and ex situ conservation through thematic gardens and large scale multiplication of genuine quality planting material.

Dr. Jitendra Kumar, President, MAPAI and Director, ICAR-DMAPR and co-chair emphasized on the isolation of bio-active compounds from various MAPs, their identification and product development to address modern life style diseases. 

Deliberations were made on different aspects of MAPs like biodiversity, conservation, plant genetic resources, crop diversification, breeding, good agricultural and collection practices, pest management, phyto-chemistry and medicinal plants in ayurveda system of medicine.

(Source: ICAR-DMAPR, Anand)