Medicinal plants in Tamil Nadu may be introduced for commercial cultivation

 Coimbatore: Emeritus professor of Banaras Hindu University, G P Dubey today emphasised the need for validation of traditional knowledge to keep pace with the growth of world market for medicinal plants.

Speaking at the two-day National Conference on Agrotechnology and Profitable marketing of Tropical Medicinal and Aromatic Plants here, Dubey pointed out that a few medicinal plants grown in Tamil Nadu were proven to be efficacious for the management of type 2 diabetes.

This could be introduced to commercial cultivation to meet the world market, he said.

The Conference, organised by the Society for Conservation and Resource Development of Medicinal plants, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi in association with Tamil Nadu Agriculture University was to facilitate scientists and research scholars to deliberate on technological interventions required to meet the growing demand for medicinal and aromatic plants.

About 250 delegates are participating in this conference.

India Vetiver Network (INVN) a non-profit scientific network to promote vetiver in India, was launched as part of the conference.

Vetiver (Indian grass with fragrant root) has worldwide application to tackle many environmental issues like soil erosion, mitigation of soil and water pollution.