EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
 
Profile

The main objectives of the division are popularization of medicinal plant conservation, cultivation and sustainable utilisation to enlarge the resource base of medicinal plants so as to make available genuine herbs to Ayurvedic industry.
With a view to enlarge the resource base of medicinal plants and to make available genuine raw drugs to the industry, extension activities are being done in a big way.

Broad Objectives

  • Conducting seminars and training programmes to popularize medicinal plant conservation and cultivation

  • Motivating the farmers, NGOs, self help groups, women groups and other needy people on various aspects of medicinal plant cultivation like

    • Crop selection

    • Cultivation practices

    • Scientific harvesting methods

    • Primary processing and storage

    • Value addition

    • Marketing

  • Awareness generation programmes among students, farmers and general public on medicinal plants that can be used as home remedies, need for conserving the local flora, sustainable utilisation etc.

  • Organizing mini-cooperative societies at village level to give guidance on medicinal plant cultivation, encourage group farming and arrange marketing of the produce harvested

  • Building up of strategic alliance of partners with the Governmental and Non Governmental agencies for the empowerment of rural womenfolk through medicinal plants cultivation, and their value addition.

  • Empowering rural women through building up strategic alliance with government and non-government agencies

 

Major Achievements

 

  • Seminars and training programmes have been conducted routinely in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts and more than 6000 people from various walks of life were trained in these seminars so far.
 
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  • Office bearers of Kudumbasree and ‘Neighbourhood groups’ selected by Social Forestry Department of Kozhikode district were given training at AVS.

 

  • Trainer’s training programmes were conducted in 45 different venues in Kerala on various aspects of medicinal plants cultivation, harvesting, value addition and marketing.

 

  • Technical help and planting materials were provided to many farmers, NGOs and Neighbourhood groups – for starting medicinal plant cultivation
 
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  • Medicinal plants awareness generation classes were given to school students

  • CMPR also has established liaison with State Department of Agriculture, Forest Department, State Medicinal Plant Board, Kudumbasree etc.

  • Tie up with various NGO groups in Wayanad, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts were established.

  • Linkages have already been established with Krishibhavans, Krishivigyan Kendras and NGOs working in the state.

  • The M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Regional Centre for Agro-biodiversity, Kalpetta; Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC), Palakkad; Centre for Overall Development, Thamarassery and Sanjeevani – an association for medicinal plant popularization, have agreed to collaborate in this area.

  • Cultivation of Trichosanthes cucumerina and Holostemma ada-kodien weretaken up by the farmers as Arya Vaidya Salahas a buy-back arrangement of these two raw drugs.

  • Tissue cultured plants and other conventionally raised plants were distributedto farmers.

  • A handbook on the cultivation practices of 15 economically viable medicinal plants has been published for circulation among farmers.

  Back
Publications
  1. Handbook on the Cultivation practices of 15 economically viable medicinal plants
 
Services:

  • Provide guidance and technical know-how in conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants and setting up Herb gardens

  • Conduct seminars and training programmes on various aspects of medicinal plant cultivation

  • Participation in exhibitions and other public awareness programmes

  • Extending classes to student groups and organisations on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources

 
Scientists:
 

Satheesh K.
Extension Scientist