ICAR-DMAPR organised Training on GACP for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

6^th February 2015, Anand

A 8-day training programme on ‘Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants was organised at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research (DMAPR), Anand during 30th January- 06th February 2015  for the trainers from  Kokrajhar districts of  Assam. Training was sponsored by Directorate of Agriculture, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Kokrajhar, Assam for the capacity building of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) growers and to disseminate the key principles of GACP of medicinal and aromatic plants who are working with the collection and cultivation of MAP at grass root level.

Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Director, ICAR-DMAPR presided over the inaugural function. He appraised the trainees about the importance of MAPs and how this training will benefit to utilize available natural resources and land to boost farm income.

During the deliberations, different aspects of MAP like, identification, collection, cultivation, pest & diseases management, post harvest management and value addition were covered, keeping in view the GACP as the central theme. Other relevant aspects like; protection of plant varieties and farmers’ rights (PPV&FR Act), Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing, quality control, certification, seed standards, marketing & supply chain and biodiversity management were also deliberated.

Participants visited the herbal garden and arboretum maintained at the Directorate and taken to the MAP progressive farmers’ field. Trainees were provided with certificates.

 (Source: ICAR-DMAPR, Anand)