Haryana Health and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Anil Vij on Sunday said that ‘World Herbal Forest’ is being developed in Morni Hills to increase plantation of native herbal species best suited to the local conditions.
Vij said that the development of the World Herbal Forest would also help improve the socio-economic condition of the local farmers. For this purpose, possibility of inter-cropping of medicinal species among local farmers through supply of herbal plants and tree saplings is being explored. Herbal plants and seeds would be provided to farmers through the Department at affordable prices, said he.
The Minister said that special centres would be set up for value addition and processing of the collected herbs in the area.
He said that efforts would be made to make people aware about herbal products and their effects. For this, herbal nurseries would be developed and huts would be set up for assistance of visitors, where they could get herbal plants as per need. He added that the researchers visiting the forest would also get help in carrying out their research work.
Vij said that the development of the forest would increase awareness about herbal plants and ayurvedic medicines and special attention is being paid for removal of weeds and ensuring protection for natural enrichment. Works are being carried out for establishment of nursery, plantation of herbal plants, construction of buildings and a demonstration garden.
He said that a special publicity drive would be carried out to make people aware about various activities that would be conducted in the herbal forest area so that maximum number of people could benefit from it.