Nearly 30 traditional healers from different parts of Meghalaya attended a workshop on “Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP)” organised by the Department of Nanotechnology, NEHU in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) yesterday at NEHU here.
The workshop was held to facilitate the Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plant Produce (VCSMPP). It was designed to imbue medicinal plant cultivators with advanced knowledge of GFCP, promises to fortify and perpetuate India’s traditional medicinal systems. Moreover, it serves as a catalyst for future research collaborations between researchers and farmer participants, particularly in the realms of nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Prof. D K Nayak, Senior Professor and Vice-Chancellor In-charge in his speech as the chief guest highlighted on the Department of Nanotechnology’s initiative in bridging the gap between academia and traditional knowledge bearers. He underscored the significance of mutual learning, emphasising that while participants glean insights from resource persons, researchers and academicians benefit profoundly from the traditional knowledge shared.
Highlighting the bounty of medicinal flora endemic in Meghalaya, Prof. S R Joshi, Director of Research and Development Cell elucidated on the vast potential inherent in these botanical treasures. He emphasised the importance of adopting Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) to elevate the quality standards of India’s medicinal plant produce, thereby fostering competitiveness among North East farmers.
Prof. Md. Iftekhar Hussain, Dean of School of Technology while applauding the Department of Nanotechnology said that despite being a new department and with limited human resources during the nascent years has lived up to the expectations of every one. He said that the department has been very active in conducting high end research, workshops and most importantly disseminating the knowledge and technology to the community through outreach programmes like this workshop.
Dr. Rajeev Kumar Sharma, Chief Technical Advisor, NMPB and Jangaiah Mangalaram were the resource persons who presented lectures on practices on Good Field Collection Practices and communicated with traditional healers from Meghalaya. They expressed optimism regarding the potential synergies between traditional healers and researchers in exploring the myriad applications of medicinal plants in cutting-edge scientific endeavours.
Dr. L R Singh, Head of the Department of Nanotechnology, NEHU, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “These collaborative efforts hold the promise of unlocking new frontiers in scientific research while simultaneously empowering local communities with sustainable practices.”
