Srinagar, Nov 12: The Regional Cum Facilitation Centre, Northern Region-II (RCFC NR-II), National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, SKUAST-K, organized a Stakeholders cum Buyer-Seller Meet on “Strengthening of Medicinal Plants Sector through Conservation, Sustainable Cultivation and Entrepreneurship Development” on November 10, 2026, at Govt. Degree College (Boys), Anantnag.
The event was graced by Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension, SKUAST-K, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, Principal, GDC Boys Anantnag, as the Guest of Honour.
The other prominent participants included Manzoor Javid, Entrepreneur/Director, SJT Biotech Innovations, Dr. Shakir Sultan, Principal Scientific Officer, CSIR-IIIM, Srinagar; and officers from the line departments, viz Department of Agriculture, District AYUSH Officer, DFO Anantnag, MSME-DFO Srinagar, and representative of the State Medicinal Plants Board, J&K, Heads of KVKs Anantnag/Pulwama, Shopian/Kulgam, various entrepreneurs, buyers/sellers, students from the GDC Anantnag and other stakeholders.
Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, Principal, Government Degree College (GDC) Boys, Anantnag, delivered the welcome address. He appreciated SKUAST-K for doing wonderful work for promotion of the Agricultural and allied sector in the UT of J&K.
Manzoor Javid, from SJT Biotech highlighted the role of RCFC NR-II while introducing his biotech company. He insisted on modulation of various regulations which hurdle the sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants in the UT of J&K.
Dr. Shakir Sultan, highlighted the importance of strengthening the medicinal plants sector through the conservation of valuable aromatic plant species for entrepreneurship development. He encouraged the students to take-up cultivation of medicinal plants as a startup to promote the sector.
Mohammad Tariq Ishtiaq, Assistant Director, MSME DFO, Srinagar gave a detailed version of various schemes for promotion of medicinal plants through cluster development.
Dr. Mohammad Farooq Naqshbandi, District AYUSH Officer Anantnag, emphasized on emerging opportunities for farmers and other entrepreneurship in the value chain of medicinal plants.
Prof. Tariq H. Masoodi, Nodal Coordinator, RCFC NR-II, delivered a detailed address on the Status, Challenges and Strengths of Medicinal Plants in the J&K region. He highlighted the vision, mandate, achievements and key initiatives taken by RCFC NR-II in strengthening the medicinal plants sector across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
He also expressed his profound appreciation for the visionary leadership, dynamic stewardship and forward-looking approach of Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, in recognizing the immense potential of medicinal plants and placing their promotion and development among the important institutional priorities of the SKUAST K.
The key dimensions of the Vice Chancellor’s vision in HADP -1 for promoting medicinal plants include: Mainstreaming MAPs into Regional Policy, focus on transitioning from wild, and unorganized extraction to structured commercial cultivation, bio-prospecting, development of standardized agro-techniques and capacity building in processing, branding and value addition.
Dr. Masoodi also appreciated the role of Directorate of Extension SKUAST-K for its outreach in various Agriculture and allied sectors including promotion of MAPs in the UT of J&K. Dr. Masoodi also advocated use RCFC NR-II platform for submission of projects to NMPB to boost the sector.
The event witnessed threadbare discussion/interaction with various stakeholders including buyers and sellers, which shared their rich experience for strengthening the medicinal plants sector in UT of J&k. The medicinal plant cultivators present at the event were linked to Arshad Raja Enterprises for sell of their raw material thereby by providing marketing link to them.
The programme was further enriched by the insightful address of the Chief Guest, Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, who appreciated the achievements and initiatives undertaken by RCFC NR-II/SKUAST-K towards the promotion and development of the medicinal plants sector in Jammu and Kashmir/Ladakh.
She emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between university and the farmers, to promote sustainable cultivation and market-oriented development of the medicinal plant sector. Citing several examples from other developed countries Dr Rehana further emphasized on promotion of medicinal plant sector is taken up in organized manner.
The main highlight of the program was signing of an MOU between RCFC NR-II and SJT Biotech. The MOU will provide a way forward for free distribution of Quality Plant Material (QPM) among farmers associated with SJT Biotech along with other technical support.
The house appreciated the role of Arshad Raja Enterprises in promoting the medicinal plant sector by providing market linkage to various cultivators and collectors of medicinal plant.
Many medicinal plant cultivators and registered collectors were honored by a certificate of appreciation by RCFC NR-II for their efforts in promotion of medicinal plants.
The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Sofi Imtiyaz Ali, Project Manager, RCFC NR-II, who expressed his gratitude to all the invitees who attended the event.
