Jharkhand is the store house of most rare and valuable species of medicinal and aromatic plants. These are immensely valuable to the well-being to local people, who do not have access to conventional medicine. Some plants may even be used to make useful products such as cosmetics, insecticide, pesticides, natural dyes and cattle fodder. In addition, plants are essential for the local fauna. The region's medicinal and aromatic plants are threatened by several factors: deforestation and climatic changes in the region, over-use and exploitation of forest, and an absence of measures for soil or water conservation and last but least the absence of knowledge about medicinal plants. If these problems continue, then local people's ability to care for their health will decline, and other aspects of well-being will also suffer - for example the degraded land may become unable to support agriculture or livestock grazing.  Project was initiated to ensure that most valuable plants, shrubs and trees specially the medicinal ones across this locality are secured in the attempt to identify, preserve and prevent these plants from disappearing for the benefit of mankind.

Objective of the Project:

Ä To make villagers aware of the important, value and use of medicinal plants

Ä Preserve, conserve and propagate medicinal plants species such as herbs, shrubs, trees, especially those that have cultural, economic and environmental significance.

Ä To Encourage the cultivation, preservation and production of certain herbs and trees that are useful for traditional medicine practices

Ä To promote knowledge and provide training for propagating and cultivating useful plants

Ä To facilitate local farmer into herbal business by cultivating medicinal plants and set up small industries to produce end products commercially.

Ä To encourage women self help groups to grow many useful plants in their backyard called home garden

PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT IN 2009-10

A Mother Nursery of 1ha land and a Herbal Garden of 4 ha land was established at Getalsud Farm  and Maheshpur Farm respectively in Angara Block during the period 2007-08.       After Land leveling, soil preparation, Manuring, weeding, mulching etc., Procurement of planting materials, Fencing of Barbed wire, Developing Water resources, Setting up of irrigation facilities Collection of plants, planting, manuring and watering etc were done during the first year. Continuing the programme during 2008-09 a  shed-net was constructed for propagation and storage of plants in the nursery. More medicinal plants were added during the period.The herbal garden of 4 ha was mostly used for the propagation, identification and providing training to propagate and cultivate useful plants. It acted as a model for the progressive farmers to replicate the model in their own land. All the plants, herbs, shrub and trees have been labeled with their scientific and local/trade name.

Photographs of different plots of Herbal Garden

During the year 2009-10 we continued growing medicinal plants in the nursery and adding medicinal plants in the Herbal Garden. A Net Shed was also added during this year.  For the rapid propagation of the plant a tissue culture lab was established during 2008-09 from our own fund in Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Divyayan KVK campus. The plants of Aswagandha and Aloe vera are being tried for rapid propagation.

MEDICINAL PLANT EXHIBITION-CUM-AWARENESS

 FOR MASS AWARENESS BUILDING ON

HERBAL  PLANTATION AND HERBAL THERAPY

Held on 10^th & 11^th of February, 2010

A two days’ exhibition-cum-awareness camp was organized on 10 & 11 February, 2010. The purpose of the said camp was to create awareness among the people about the importance of medicinal plant, adding more information with the help of Ayurvedic doctors to the villagers practicing Herbal Treatment and to build confidence in herbal therapy.

One month before holding the said camp a massive advertisement regarding this camp was carried out through posters, banners and wall writing for better participation of the local people. The exhibition-cum-awareness camp was inaugurated by Revered Swami Shashankananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Morabadi, Ranchi on 10^th February. Around 310 people participated in the awareness camp. Villagers practicing Herbal Treatment brought the herbal plants and shared their experiences with other participants. Ayurvedic doctors (Vaidyas) of Ranchi associated with this project being implemented by Ramakrishna Mission attended the camp as resource persons. They guided the local practitioners and added to their knowledge by exchanging their experiences with them. Different Medicinal Plants and their curative power were discussed with the participants. 

Herbal Medical Camp

An Ayurvedic Diagnostic Camp was also organized during this period. Around 230 people were diagnosed and treated by the ayurvedic physicians during the camp. Farmers were also taken around the herbal garden of the Mission during the camp to have better knowledge about the plants.