ITANAGAR, Oct 29: Jorhat (Assam)-based CSIR-NEIST on 28 October signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bosing Bango Farmers’ Cooperative Society Ltd in East Siang HQ Pasighat to promote cooperation in scientific research and dissemination of technology related to aromatic and medicinal plants and floriculture.
The CSIR-NEIST plans to set up about 15 multi-locational experimental research fields in the Northeast region (five farms in Assam, four in Arunachal, one each in Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura).
“The main aim is to achieve identification, domestication, and cultivation of rare, threatened and endangered species of medicinal plants to sustain the modern pharmaceutical industries and also for sustenance of India’s strong traditional system of medicines for which the crucial factors such as breeding of new plant varieties, identification of stable performance through multi-locational trials, integration of modern science along with market and industrial application potential are the key,” the CSIR-NEIST stated in a release.
High-scale production of medicinal plants would be helpful in meeting the industrial demands, as well as cease the import of raw materials, it said.
Post-harvest processing, value chain and strong networking with industries are the key areas in which the CSIR-NEIST would be helping the farmers. It said it would also provide “an ambience to conduct highest level of fundamental science and translational research.”
CSIR-NEIST Director Dr G Narahari Sastry inaugurated the second multi-locational experimental research field in Runne in East Siang district, in collaboration with the Bosing Bango Farmers’ Cooperative Society Ltd on Thursday.
CSIR Aroma Mission’s principal investigator Dr SP Saikia, co-investigator Dr Mohan Lal, and a team of scientists from the CSIR-NEIST were present on the occasion.
CSIR-NEIST Director Dr G Narahari Sastry also visited the College of Horticulture & Forestry in Pasighat and had a discussion with its Dean, Dr BN Hazarika, regarding promoting cooperation in scientific education and research between the two institutions.
