Himachal-based NGOs to grow herbs on barren land

Himachal Pradesh-based NGOs, HARB Society (Herbs Antique Research Botanical Society), HOGA (Herbal Organic Growers Association), a society involved in organic farming of medicinal herbs, APGAI (Aromatic Plants Growers Association of India) and 'Rajput Kalyan Sabha' have joined hands to initiate a new project dedicated for the utilisation of the barren-land of Himachal Pradesh for organic farming of herbs and medicinal plants and to promote herbal health tourism in the state.

Also, they are planning to launch 200 HARB Society retail outlets throughout the northern region to ensure availability of pure ayurvedic medicines made from Himalyan herbs and medicinal plants.

Under the project, the land will be utilised for herbal and organic farming and the herbs will be processed at the state-of-the-art HARB Society unit.

Herbal products like herbal tea, herbal bath, herbal pickles, herbal preserves, herbal spices, herbal vegetables and pulses would be made available to all major hotels in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, associated with this project for the benefit of the tourists in these states.

Tourism departments of these states will also be asked to join hands for the cause.

Also, the associations will launch about 140 formulation in the domestic market soon, after getting necessary clearances from the health and food inspection departments concerned.

For manufacturing purposes, the NGOs have set up their unit in Kangra at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. Funding will be mainly through contribution by its members.

HARB Society and APGAI President RS Guleria said, "More than 200 HARB Society retail outlets will be setup throughout the region to ensure availability of true ayurvedic medicines derived from Himalyan herbs and medicinal plants. The HARB Society has discovered and started cultivation numerous herbal and medicinal plants beneficial in the treatment of diseases like HIV-AIDS, cancer, diabetes, asthma, stone, joint pains, heart ailments.