Salem
No.22. At a seminar on "Herbal cultivation" organised
at Thalaivasan here recently, the speakers highlighted the
benefits that would accrue to farmers who would take to cultivation
of medicinal plants. It was stated that those raising herbs
would get better returns than the seasonal crops.
The
participants also under scored the point that the Insurance
companies were ready to Insure and herbal crops. While speaking
on the occasion, Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Managing Director of
Sami Labs Ltd., Bangalore, a leading export house for Ayurvedic
products, called upon the farmers to cultivate medicinal plants
like coleus and marigold.
He
said exports of herbs from India constituted hardly one per
cent of the world markets, and therefore there was ample scope
for increasing the output. He hoped that if the farmers realised
that the growing medicinal plants would pay off well, there
would be "herbal revolution" in the country.
The
regional manager of the United India Insurance Company (Coimbatore),
Mr. D. Nathamuni, stressed the need for insuring the medicinal
plants against natural calamities, pests and diseases. The
officials of the United India Insurance Co, Mr. C.N. Chinnasamy,
senior divisional manager (Coimbatore), and Mr. G. Balaji,
divisional manager (Salem), pointed out that their company
was the first in the country to start insurance scheme for
turmeric and other medicinal plants.
Mr.
Palanivel of the M.G.P. Marketing Centres, said with the help
of sami Labs, his organisation had brought over 2000 acres
of land under herbal cultivation within the past three years.
It had adopted drip irrigation system in water deficit areas,
and organic farming, mainly to encourage women farmers.
The
company was coordinating with the United India Insurance Co.
and State Bank of India in extending insurance schemes to
turmeric and other medicinal plants.
The
scientists from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University –
Dr. Asokan, Ms. Maragatham and Dr. Rajendran – presented
the latest technologies in herbal cultivationand mechanisation
schemes.
The
bankers assured the prospective farmers of financial and technical
assistance in raising medicinal plants. The branch manager
of the United India Insurance Co. (Salem) Mr. K. Sampath Kumar,
proposed a vote of thanks.
