Jammu, Jan 24: The speakers at a seminar-cum-awareness program organized by SKUAST-K stressed on the utilization and cultivation of medicinal, aromatic and edible plants for the livelihood security of local people.
The daylong seminar on ‘Diversity, Conservation and Livelihood Security through Himalayan Medicinal Plants’ was organized by SKUAST-K’s Regional- cum-Facilitation Centre (RCFC) in collaboration with the Department of Botany Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women Gandhi Nagar Jammu under Northern Region-II, National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
About 80 participants including students and faculty members from Botany, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Home Science and Food Science participated in the seminar.
Dr Mohan Singh, Director ISM and CEO SMPB, J&K, was the chief guest whereas Prof Minu Mahajan, Principal, PSPS GPG College for Women Gandhinagar and OP Sharma IFS, Former Director Ecology, Environment and remote sensing, were the guests of honour at the inaugural function.
Dr Sheikh Bilal Ahmed, Regional Director, RCFC, Northen Region II, welcomed the gathering and apprised them of the aim of the program. Dr BD Sehgal, Head Department of Physics, PSPS Govt PG College for Women Gandhi Nagar, presented his views during the inaugural session which culminated with the presentation of mementos to the guests.
The technical session started with an informative presentation by Dr LM Gupta, Head, Division of Forestry, SKUAST Jammu. The other speakers were Dr Sheikh Bilal Ahmed (Regional Director RCFC, SKUAST-K), OP Sharma (Former Director Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing), Dr Waheed-ul-Hassan (Nodal Officer, ISM), Dr Anju Koul (Senior Assistant Professor in Botany) and Dr Renu Sharma (Assistant Professor in Botany). The speakers gave in-depth deliberations on the utilization and cultivation of medicinal, aromatic and edible plants for the livelihood security of local people. Prof Mala Bhasin, Head, Department of Botany, PSPS Govt PG College for Women Gandhi Nagar presented a vote of thanks and appreciated the participants’ efforts. The program was coordinated by Er Falak Jan and Prof Sugandha Mahajan.
