CSIR-NEIST opens research field in Nagaland to propagate medicinal plants
JORHAT, Dec 4 - The Jorhat-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST) has opened a Multi-locational Trial and Regional Research Experimental Field in Nagaland, the first one of its kind in the hill State.
A CSIR-NEIST official stated that a team of scientists of the research institute, led by its Director Dr G Narahari Sastry, visited Nukshiyim village at Yaongyimsen in Mokokchung district recently. The CSIR-NEIST Director and the village council president, Dr I Nukshi, jointly inaugurated the project.
The official said that the establishment of a trial and regional research field is part of an initiative undertaken by the CSIR-NEIST under the CSIR Aroma Mission programme to boost traditional medicinal systems in the North Eastern region. Altogether 15 such research experimental fields on medicinal plant species will be set up in the region.
Speaking after opening the research field in the Nagaland village, the CSIR-NEIST Director stressed the importance of utilising the rich biodiversity and the rare medicinal and aromatic plants found abundantly in the region, for the benefit of the local people.
The purpose of propagating medicinal and aromatic plants is to promote rural entrepreneurship and augment the standard of living, Dr Sastry added. He highlighted the importance of medicinal plants and herbs in boosting immunity.
Dr Sastry further stated that aromatic plants and fragrant flowers have high value due to rich presence of natural oils and using them in the perfumery industry would pay dividends to farmers.
The CSIR-NEIST Director also handed over saplings of Tinospora cordifolia (giloy) to Nukshiyim village council president Dr Nukshi, S Wati, its secretary, and other members. Many other medicinal plants, face masks, anti-arthritis ointments and hand sanitizers manufactured by the CSIR-NEIST, were also distributed.
The Aroma Mission envisages identification, domestication and cultivation of rare, threatened and endangered species of medicinal plants to sustain the modern pharmaceutical industry and India�s traditional system of medicines, the CSIR-NEIST official stated.
Breeding of new plant varieties, identification of stable performance through multi-locational trials and integration of modern science along with market and industrial application potential are crucial factors of the mission, the official added.
