Bishnupur will have first medicinal and aromatic plant hub in the state: Health Minister

Imphal: First Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAP) Hub will be set up at Sunushiphai in Bishnupur district, said health and family welfare minister L. Jayantakumar Singh on his visit at Langjingmanbi Forest Reserved of Sunushiphai in Bishnupur district, on Tuesday.

Inspecting the site minister said the project which is to be taken up under the Atma Nivar Bharat Abhiyan, will be started as soon as possible. Required land for the purpose is also available. This new project will be introduced under Public Private Partnership, PPP model. Manipur State Medicinal Plant Board, MSPB, will ink an MOU with the LYS Agency Private Ltd. Kwakeithel, Imphal West, in order to start the project.

The project will consist of a Distillation Unit, Processing unit and a catchment area of 5 acres of land to grow different varieties of aromatic and medicinal plants of high value, Jayantakumar added.

He said this step has been taken up under an agreement with North East Institute of Science and Technology, NEIST under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, Jorhat, Assam. NEIST has also informed to send Distillation machine either by the end of this month or at the early part of next month, the minister said.

Jayantakumar said there is a big scope for generation of employment by planting aromatic and medicinal plants by the poor farmers of the state. The soil of the state is also fertile and suitable for such plants. Marketing facilities of the plants will be provided by the state government. Aromatic and medicinal plant saplings will also be provided at free of cost to those interested farmers of the state.

He maintained that public cooperation is needed to convert this project into action and also to make this dream come true.

Speaking to media, CEO, State Medicinal Plant Board, SMPB, Manipur, DrA. Guneshwor Sharma said the high value plants available in the state need to be protected and promoted.

Such medicinal and aromatic plants will also generate income for the farmers. Bishnupur district will now become a model district in this field and such innovative venture with LYS Agency Pt. Ltd. It will also inspire the entrepreneurs of the state, he added.

Proprietor, LYS Agency Pt. Ltd Shei L. Ratan Khuman and others were also present at the occasion.