Kolkata, Feb 27: President A P J Abdul Kalam today said the rich herbal resources of the country, if marketed properly, can yield enormous revenue for the country's economy. On a day's sojourn to the city, the president took a tour of the Agri-horticultural Society of India and looked at some of the rare species of plants like Monodora Grandiflora, Pterygota Alata (mad tree), Gustavia Insignis, Callistemon Polandii, Wasgingtonia Filifera and Bougainvillea.
Himself a student of herbs, the President began his speech on his habitual easygoing manner, ''The herbal plants will have no value unless they are converted into drugs and sold in the market.''
“India is rich in bio-diversity and marine life. Hence it is not sufficient that herbs are nurtured and grown, but people have to be educated about their value so that they can be utilised for the development of the economy,'' Dr Kalam added.
“Farmers usually have four months of lean season when they do not grow crops. If they are properly educated and given support, they can utilise the period in yielding medicinal plants like germanium. The plant grows in four months and they can be sold in the market and add to the economy,'' the missile man of India said.
Bureau Report