Mandi: Workshop on health benefits, cultivation of ashwagandha

Vallabh Government College, Mandi, successfully hosted a one-day workshop titled “Ashwagandha — A Health Promoter” under the National Awareness Campaign of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.

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The workshop brought together teachers deputed by the Deputy Director of Elementary and Higher Education from various blocks of Mandi district. The goal: to empower these educators as resource persons who can champion awareness of ashwagandha — often hailed as the King of Herbs — among students and local communities.

The event was inaugurated with a welcome address by Prof Sanjeev Kumar, Principal of VGC Mandi.

Dr Rajesh Kumar, District AYUSH Officer, Mandi, graced the occasion as chief guest. In his keynote address, he highlighted ashwagandha’s role in health promotion, safe usage, dosage guidelines and its potential to boost rural livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Tara Sen Thakur, Principal Investigator, provided a comprehensive overview of the ashwagandha awareness campaign. She emphasised its relevance, outlined implementation strategies and introduced value-added ashwagandha-based recipes.

Prof Sanjeet, co-investigator from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, delivered an insightful talk on “Ashwagandha in Indian Traditional Knowledge Systems.” YK Sen from Kamaksha Agri & Flori Tech, Sundernagar, offered practical guidance on soil requirements, cultivation techniques and marketing opportunities for ashwagandha.

The workshop saw enthusiastic participation from around 100 attendees, including 60 teachers, 15 students, 10 farmers and 15 teaching and non-teaching staff from Vallabh College. Interactive sessions covered cultivation practices, value addition and market linkages. Over 500 ashwagandha saplings were distributed for plantation in schools, reinforcing the campaign’s hands-on approach. Participants also enjoyed innovative ashwagandha-based biscuits and snacks. The event was supported by Vice-Principal Prof Ravinder Kumar, Dr Deepali Ashok, Dr Sanjay Narang, Dr Sanjay Kumar and Kushal Verma.