Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

OU to provide land for raising medicinal plants

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD NOV.8. Conservation of bio-diversity holds the key to sustainable development and India should capitalise on its rich bio-diversity to take competitive advantage in the knowledge economy, according to the Osmania University Vice-Chancellor, J. Anantha Swamy.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day national seminar on bio-diversity, conservation and commercial exploitation of medicinal plants organised by the Department of Botany, Osmania University, under the UGC-Special Assistance Programme here on Saturday, he said that plants had been the most important source of medicine both traditional and modern throughout the human history.

He said that the university would make available land to the Botany department for cultivation of medicinal plants in collaboration with the State Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board. He called for protection of traditional knowledge and indigenous systems nurturance of native communities and inculcation of eco-friendly living for sustenance of our rich bio-diversity and emergence as a formidable player in this sector.

The Chief Executive Officer, State Medicinal Plant Board, explained the initiatives of the Government in popularising the cultivation of medicinal plants and measures adopted to protect traditional communities and natural resource-base.

AP-Netherlands Bio-technology programme chairman M.V. Rao, drew attention to the dangers of commercial exploitation of medicinal plants without long-term perspective. Referring to concerns like equity, extinction of species, depletion of natural habituating and violation of intellectual property rights, he urged the scientists to come out with a road map for India to develop in this field.

About 300 delegates from different parts of the country are taking part in the seminar.

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