Herbal cultivation expanded to 35 hectares in Far-west province

Dhangadhi: Herbal cultivation has expanded to 35 hectares in Far West Province.

The Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of the Far West Province Government expanded herbal cultivation across various districts through groups, cooperatives and interested individuals in the last fiscal year 2081/082.

Deputy Secretary of the Ministry Bharat Shrestha said the ministry is working to boost production and expand herbal cultivation by conserving herbs in the region. He informed that Rs 23 million was allocated by the federal government and Rs 6 million by the provincial government in the last fiscal year, enabling the expansion of herbal farming to 35 hectares.

For the current fiscal year, Shrestha said the ministry has allocated Rs 18.1 million from the federal government and Rs 5.2 million from the provincial government for further expansion of herbal cultivation in the Far West.

He highlighted that the ministry has introduced the Far West Province Forest Regulations, 2078 BS, and the Forest Act, 2077 BS, which assign the Division Forest Office the responsibility of protecting, promoting and managing valuable herbal plants in the province.

Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Dirgha Narayan Koirala, said the Far West is rich in herbal resources and requires a long-term policy for their protection, promotion and management.

He stated that the investment conference planned by the provincial government to highlight the potential of herbal plants was postponed due to special circumstances. Secretary Koirala added that with India and China as major markets, there is significant potential for herb-related trade. He said the Division Forest Office plays an important role in preventing open grazing, forest fires and illegal import of naturally occurring herbs.

Emphasizing value addition, he said that processing herbs within the province instead of exporting them in raw form could bring greater benefits. Discussions have begun to introduce a dedicated policy and act for the protection, promotion and management of valuable herbs.