A first: Medicinal plant producer body receives good agri practices certification

Dipender Manta

Mandi, July 13

In a landmark achievement, the Tridev Medicinal Plant Producer Farmers Organisation, based in Rohal, Rohru, has become the first organisation in the state to receive certification for the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP) on medicinal plants. The certification was given to the organisation on Friday at Jogindernagar in Mandi district by Dr Arun Chandan, the Regional Director of Regional Cum Felivcitation Centre- Northern Region 1 (RCFC-NR1) under the National Medicinal Plant Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.

Chandan congratulated Kripal Singh and his team for their contribution to the cultivation of medicinal plants and environmental conservation. He emphasised the significance of the certification, which remains valid until February 2027, in endorsing sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

The certification encompasses a substantial area of cultivation and collection efforts. Under GAP certification, the Tridev Medicinal Plant Producer Farmers Organisation and manages 40 hectares involving 94 farmers, focusing primarily on crops like kutki and aatish. Similarly, under the GFCP certification, they oversee 60 hectares involving 74 farmers, cultivating a variety of medicinal plants, including sugandhwala, chora, mahameda, dhoop, and chukri.

Kripal Singh, the driving force behind the achievement, expressed his gratitude to Chandan and attributed the success to the unwavering commitment of his team towards sustainable agriculture and ethical field collection practices of medicinal plants. Reflecting on his journey, Singh highlighted his lifelong passion for medicinal plants and underscored the pivotal role played by a Ministry of AYUSH initiative in 2004, which sparked his interest in promoting their cultivation.

Since its inception, the organisation has not only made significant strides in cultivating medicinal plants, but also in educating local farmers about sustainable practices. Their efforts have positively impacted the livelihoods of over 500 farmers, including 300 subsidy recipients from the AYUSH department, by integrating profitable medicinal plant farming into their agricultural practices.

The journey towards certification was marked by Kripal Singh’s realisation of the threats posed by unregulated wild herb extraction, prompting him to advocate for structured cultivation practices to safeguard biodiversity.

In closing, Kripal Singh emphasised that this certification not only marks a personal achievement but also serves as a crucial milestone for advancing the cultivation of medicinal plants and environmental conservation in Himachal Pradesh.