Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday invited reputed herbal products manufacturers of the country to set up units for production of herbal medicines in Chhattisgarh.
He was addressing the inaugural programme of two-day national symposium on 'Vanoshadhi Chhattisgarh 2018" based on herbal medicines here.
On the occasion, Singh released souvenir published by Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board.
The Chief Minister informed the herbal medicine manufacturing companies attending the symposium about the scope of farming, production and market for herbal medicines in Chhattisgarh.
He said that herbal medicinal plants constitute a major portion of Chhattisgarh's invaluable forest resources. Herbal farming is also developing at an accelerated pace. It is an important source of income for forest dweller families.
Herbal medicine based industries will provide good employment opportunities to the forest dweller families engaged in collection of these herbal medicines, the Chief Minister said.
Singh said to the investors that If they want, they may chalk out action plan for five years, and sign MoU with State Government on the second day of the symposium.
The Chief Minister requested them to contact and discuss their action plan with the officials of Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board and Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC).
As Chief Guest of the inaugural programme, Singh said along with traditional agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy, gardening and forestry related works also comes under agriculture sector.
In India, especially in states like Chhattisgarh, production and collection of forest produce is an important way of creating financial self-dependence for forest dwellers, he said.
Singh said that the market of herbal medicines is expanding exponentially across the world. In near future, it would become one of the biggest markets. Presently, this sector has annual growth rate of 10-15%.
Nearly 65% of the herbal market is in hands of China. Hence, India needs to pace up its progress in this direction. And new States like Chhattisgarh can contribute whole lot, the Chief Minister said.
He said that Chhattisgarh has good scope of herbal medicinal plant farming, production of herbal medicines and supplying into the market. We have vast forest area. Areas like Bastar are home to various species such as turmeric, tulsi etc. Extensive survey is also required for the same.
A major national market of harra, baheda, aamla etc forest produce and herbal medicines has been developed in Dhamtari. State has favourable environment too, Singh said.
Keeping in view all the favourable circumstances, State Government is ready to offer every possible aid to investors for establishing herbal medicine processing industry, he said.
The Chief Minister said the State Government has marked plants and trees of medicinal value at local-level in all the districts. Nursery is also being developed.
Singh said that the State Government is developing a herbal garden on 500 acres of land. Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board is making every possible effort for conservation, collection and promotion of herbal medicine farming. State Industrial Development Board is providing all the necessary facilities under its industrial policy.
Tax rebate benefit can be deliberated upon. National-level herbal medicine manufacturers and experts in the subject are present in the symposium, their views and opinions will prove beneficial for us, he said.
Singh said that nearly 76 kinds of medicinal plant species in India and abroad are on the verge of extinction. It is necessary to take all kinds of measures to save them. We have also established lab in various districts of Chhattisgarh.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government is taking some serious steps in the direction. CAMPA fund, DMF and other funds are available for funding the aforementioned purposes.
While presiding over the inaugural programme, Union Minister for State for Steel Vishnudev Sai said that entire Ayurveda is based on herbal medicines.
Keeping in view its importance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established a separate Ministry named 'Aayush', he said.
The programme was presided over by Union Minister of State for Steel Vishnudev Sai.
In the inaugural programme of the symposium, Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board Rampratap Singh, Vice-Chairman JP Sharma, Chairman of Forest Development Corporation Shrinivas Rao Maddi, Chairman of CSIDC Chhagan Lal Mundra, Chairman of State Agriculture and Seed Corporation Shyam Bais, Chairman of State Cooperative Bank Ashok Bajaj, Chairman of Matikala Board Chandrashekhar Pandey, Chhattisgarh Dairy Cooperative Federation Rasik Parmar, Chairman of Rajya Antyavsayi Sahkari Vikas Nigam Nirmal Singa, Chairman of Madarsa Board Mirza Ajaz Beg, Chief Secretary of State Government Ajay Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of Forest Department CK Khetan, CEO of Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board Shirish Chandra Agrawal and officials of other institution concerned, college students and senior citizens were also present.
Chairman of State Medicinal Plant Board Rampratap Singh delivered welcome speech. Additional Chief Secretary of Forest Department also addressed the inaugural programme.