The Foundation cultivated these medicinal plants on 14 acres involving 58 farmers last year in the Agency
ATMA identified initially three varieties of medicinal plants such as Kalmegh (Nelavemu), Kasturi Benda and Vattiverua in 25 demonstrations, covering 12.50 acres at a cost of nearly Rs 4 lakh, involving 150 farmers. The ATMA bears Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,
Kakinada: The district officials are focusing on growing medicinal plants for benefitting the farmers, particularly in Agency lands benefitting the tribal farmers. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) tied up with Visakhapatnam based non-governmental organisation KOVEL Foundation for encouraging the farmers.
ATMA identified initially three varieties of medicinal plants such as Kalmegh (Nelavemu), Kasturi Benda and Vattiverua in 25 demonstrations, covering 12.50 acres at a cost of nearly Rs 4 lakh, involving 150 farmers. The ATMA bears Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 for Kovel foundation and the remaining labour component should be borne by the beneficiary. The crop duration for Kasturi Benda and Kalmegh is for six months and three cuttings in year and Vattiveru for two years.
“We will give the technology, seed and market support to the farmers on buyback policy. After yielding the crop, the produce will immediately be disposed off,” said ATMA project director N. Seetharama Raju. He said that if the project was successful, it would benefit more farmers in the future as it would be extended in the remaining acreage in agency area.
KOVEL Foundation sources said that the Bengaluru based ‘Natural Remedies’ will purchase the crop of Kasturi Benda and Kalmegh by paying remunerative prices, fixing by the farming community at the time of export. Kalmegh was sold Rs 60 per kilo whereas Kasturi Benda for Rs 100 per kilo last year.
The Foundation cultivated these medicinal plants on 14 acres involving 58 farmers last year in the Agency. The farmers got 28 tonnes of produce from these medicinal plants. There are more medicinal values in Kalmegh leaves which are used for digestion, diabetes, fever and other diseases and Kasturi Benda is being mixed in some of the medicines for its extractions.
KOVEL Foundation ensures implementation, required technical support, regular follow up of the proposed demo plots, buy-back arrangements with pharma companies such as Natural Remedies, Dabur and others which will fulfill the objective of the intervention so as to make the project successful, said the Foundation district coordinator M.N.B. Raju.
He said that the Foundation was encouraging growing medicinal plants in five mandals like Rampachodavaram, Maredumilli, Devipatnam, Addategala and Gangavaram in 58 villages. He said that their aim was to change the economic and livelihood standards of the tribals.
The Vattiveruâ cultivation will be taken up in only five plots initially in Maredumilli area.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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