Himachal herbs show promise

Some 120 farmers from seven districts of Himachal Pradesh could venture into medicinal farming if the Centre approves a Rs 10-crore herbal project.

State government officials said this project was sent to the National Horticulture Board for approval and the farmers belong to the Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Solan and Shimla districts.

The state government is expecting a nod soon from the national horticulture board which could pave the way for more such projects in the near future.

In fact sources say the state government is already working on stage II of this plan, by preparing another larger Rs 100 crore herbal plan involving 1000 similar projects for farmers and self help groups across the state.

The prominent herbs include, the well known amla fruit(or Indian gooseberry) orange, papaya, several grasses among other roots and herbs.

Each project will be of Rs 8 lakh. For this the national horticulture board will provide upto Rs 2.50 crore as help while another Rs 2.50 crore loans from banks on low interest rates.

Each farmer or self help group will grow these herbs on 35 canal area for which exposure visits by experts will be arranged. The stage II plan is expected to be sent for approval soon to the Centre.

If the second plan is approved by the National Horticulture Board it would be the largest ever grant for herbal promotion in the hill state.

"The national horticulture board has lots of funds. What is needed for us is to send them viable plans which can be effectively carried out throughout the state," said S K Patial, secretary of the Himachal Organic Farming Association.