GDC Neeli Nallah hosts seminar on conservation of Himalayan Medicinal Plants

UDHAMPUR : Government Degree College Neeli Nallah, Udhampur on Saturday organised a seminar cum awareness programme on “Diversity, Conservation & Livelihood Security Through Important Himalayan Medicinal Plants” in collaboration with “Regional-cum-Facilitation Centres Northern Region –II, National Medicinal Plants, Board, Ministry of Ayush Govt. of India, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir”.

The event was held under the Patronage of Prof. Hans Raj, Principal, GDC Neeli Nallah, Udhampur. The programme was started with a welcome address by Mr. Ramneek Sharma, student of Semester I. The formal welcome to the resource persons of the event was done by Prof. Shaista Yasmeen.

Prof. Hans Raj, Principal of the College, in his keynote address gave a brief introduction about the theme of the seminar- “Diversity, Conservation & Livelihood Security through Important Himalayan Medicinal Plants”. He stated that the role of medicinal plants is particularly important in the Himalayan Region as it is the major source of medication all over India. He stressed that the main motive of the seminar was to educate the students about how they will generate self-employment and livelihood with the help of cultivation of medicinal plants.

Further, first speaker of the event Prof. Sheikh Bilal Ahmed, Regional Director, RCFC Northern Region II , J&K, initiated his lecture through a powerpoint presentation on the theme “Medicinal Plants for Food, Nutritional and Livelihood Security. He mentioned different plant species like- Kuth, Patrees, Tripathi, Kutki, Krish etc., their common names and their medicinal benefits.

The event was followed by the second speaker of the event O.P. Sharma Vidyarthi (IFS), Member JK Biodiversity Council, Tree Talk Crusader. He deliberated that Indian culture and religious literature has revered plants since vedic period. He further explained how nine plants were associated with plants.

The third speaker, Dr. Falak Jan, Technical Officer IF, RCFC NR-II SKUAST-K on the theme “Artificial Intelligence and IoT Technology: Tools for Advancement in Medicinal Plant. Further, the last speaker of the event Dr Rozy Rasool, Consultant, RCFC, Northern Region II, spoke on the theme “Good Agricultural Practices of Withania Somnifera.

A large number of participants including students and faculty members of Colleges attended the programme.

Prof. Swati Dutt, Dr. Radha Rani, Prof. Shaistra Yasmeen and Dr. Ranjeeta Langey were the members of the organizing committee. Others present were Dr. Parul Chibber, Ms. Manisha Kanchru, Mr. Imtiyaz Ahmed Batti, Ms. Riya Bajral, Mr. Suram Chand and Mr. Karan Magotra.

The formal vote of thanks was presented by Ms. Manisha Kanchru, Lect. in EVS.