GUWAHATI, Oct 17 - Governor PB Acharya has instituted three awards for the three best tulsi plantations on the occasion of Kati Bihu.
The nodal agency for organising the awards will be the nature organisation from Dergaon, Aashray, which is holding a tulsi plantation contest at Dergaon on the evening of Kati Bihu, an official release said.
The awards, named after yoga guru Patanjali, astronomer and scientist Aryabhatta and ayurvedic surgeon Sushruta, will carry cash prizes of Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 for the first, second and third best tulsi plantations respectively.
The Governor said that India was primarily an agricultural country and always had deep knowledge of the usage of indigenous day-to-day products, medicinal plants and herbs like cow-dung, tulsi, neem, etc. Tulsi is known to have the best known natural insect repellant properties and is highly effective.
�Our rich scientific knowledge as an agricultural country has taught us since ancient times the best ways to promote production and to preserve the produce. India has been a rich storehouse of ancient scientific knowledge providing solutions to innumerable human problems and ailments that have withstood the test of times. We must make it a point to promote their use and to ensure the preservation, conservation and promotion of the plants, herbs and other natural products that go into making them,� the Governor said.
