Chandigarh: Progressive farmers participated in ‘Farm to Pharmacy’ workshop

Chandigarh: A workshop on Ayurvedic medicinal plants was organised at Jatinder Veer Sarvhitkari Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 71 in collaboration with the National Medicinal Plants Board, Northern Region, Joginder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh. Medicinal plants were discussed in this programme organised on the theme Farm to Pharmacy. Dr Pushkar Veer Singh, owner of Dharamveer Ayurveda Private Limited, Dera Bassi, informed the farmers about the medicinal plants used in the pharmacy industry. He emphasised on the importance of cultivation of Ashwagandha, Sarpagandha, Pitta Papara, Milk Thistle, Satyanashi, Black and White Kaunch as well as Harad, Amla and Baheda, which can be very beneficial for the farmers. 14 progressive farmers from Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ambala districts participated in the workshop.

Vaid (doctor) HC Gautam explained the benefits of Ashwagandha to the participants in detail. During this, Om Prakash Manauli, Environment Education Coordinator of Vidya Bharati Northern Region, informed the farmers about the herbal plants available in the school premises. Along with this, the process of making herbal plant nursery, medicinal plant seeds, herbarium and natural Holi colors was also discussed. Bhag Singh Baidwan, Chairman of Green School Project, highlighted the importance of herbal garden developed in the school premises and said that it plays an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle. He also shared the plan to develop this herbal garden at the national level to provide comprehensive learning opportunities to the students. The farmers also shared information about other medicinal plants available in their respective areas.