1. A National Conference on increasing Production and Productivity of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants through Traditional Practices was held at GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GB PUAT), Pantnagar. Uttarakhand under the aegis of AAHF from 18 to 20 September 2008.  

At the inauguration, the Chief Guest was Hon. Trivender Singh Rawat, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Uttarakhand. The Conference was attended by 125 participants from 12 states of the country. During the three days, I 0 sessions were held and 5 I papers presented orally. Besides, 49 papers were presented through posters. The plenary session was presided over by Vice- Chancellor BS Bisht. The recommendations that participants made after the deliberations are as follows:

There is great need of documentation of medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) of Uttarakhand Slate. Such an authentic documentation should be initiated by GBPUAT. A data base on Uttarakhand herbal resources should be developed and updated by the GBPUAT in collaboration with Uttarakhand State Medicinal Plant Board.

There is a need for ethno-medical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical use at rural and tribal levels.

Based on the raw material available, there is need for establishing small-scale and cottage industries at Iocai level. Such units may include:

- Depots or primary units for storage and sale of locally available material.

- Establishment ofAyurvedie Arogya Shala and health resorts at selected places.

These units should undertake:
(i)Cultivation; (ii) processing of finished/semi-finished products: (iii) Treatment of local population and marketing of processed items; and (iv) Production of nutraceutical and other "over the counter" products, which are easily marketable. This is being done in some states of India. Uttarakhand needs to strengthen this activity.

Proper recognition of home remedies by which more than half the common ailments are treated through traditional knowledge. There are around 30 crude drugs prepared from specific herbs. Cultivation of such herbs as "kitchen garden" plants will ensure authentic source of the drugs.

The widening gap between "demand and supply" of MAPs at the ends of small growers and processors should he studied and minimized.

A condition of industry should be imposed that some part of the stock would be purchased essentially from the local growers.

In case of widely utilized MAPs, support price should he fixed by the State Government. The clause of sustainable exploitation of high-value medicinal plants in high hills should also be imposed.

Besides the Stale Government. other related R&D institutes should be included in the MAPs development programs.

An Ayurveda expert could be invited and given faculty status by the GBPUAT. His/her interactions with Ayurveda researchers of the University should prove highly fruitful.

One year diploma course in processing and marketing MAPs should also he introduced through polytechnic programs of the state.

The GBPUAT should identify high- demand medicinal plant species and conduct research on their optimum production technologies. The active ingredients should he monitored. Propagating materials (seed, cuttings, etc.) should then be made available to interested growers of Uttarakhand.

To increase awareness of our agricultural heritage, the GBPUAT should introduce a formal course (an elective course of 3 credit hrs.) to undergraduate students of College of Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Home Science, and Agri-Business Management.

Participants were happy to note the establishment of Uttarakhand Chapter of the Asian Agri-History Foundation. The chapter should ensure that recommendations of the Conference are followed up.

2.With the initiative of the Rajasthan Chapter of AAI-IF. National Seminar on Improving Productivity arid Quality of Tea through Traditional Agricultural Practices was held from 15 to 16 November 2008 at University of North Bengal. Siliguri, West Bengal. Collaborators were the departments of botany and zoology, and the Institute of Plantation Science and Management (IPSM). The event was sponsored by Tea Board of India (Kolkata), India Bio-Organic Tea Association (Kolkala), P1 Industries (Udaipur). MAHYCO (Mumbai), and Pandit Badri Prasad Maharshi Charitable Trust (Jaipur).

KN Nag presided over the Inaugural session. The inaugural address was given by Professor BN Chakraborty. Other speakers were VS Parmar of the West Bengal Chapter of AAHF and Chamong Tea Group, Darjeeling, A Roychoudhary, Deputy Director, Tea Board, Siliguri, RS Tewari, CEO, Longview Tea Company, and YE Nene, Chairman, AAHF, Secunderabad. SL Choudhary of the Rajasthan Chapter proposed a Vote of Thanks. Professor ID Singh organized the whole event most efficiently. Several excellent papers on the management of tea plantations in West Bengal were presented. The Plenary Session was chaired by KN Nag. Over 200 participants from six states of India attended the Seminar. The participants made the following recommendations:

The on-going efforts by the tea farmers. Tea Research Association (TRA). Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre (DTRDC), and IPSM on organic tea cultivation are very much appreciated. These institutions in North Bengal region should be further strengthened. Further, a committee of individuals from these institutions should be appointed in order to develop an integrated work plan.

The participants welcomed he establishment of the West Bengal Chapter of AAHF. The new Chapter will focus on unearthing the ancient and medieval texts of the region pertaining to agriculture to disseminate the knowledge. The Chapter should also conduct training courses on organic farming to educate tea farmers.

It was noted that a good amount of useful information has now been gathered on organic cultivation of tea based on the trials by several tea plantations. A seminar should be organized jointly by the tea farmers. Darjeeling Planters Association (DPA). DTRDC, TRA. and IPSM-UNB under the aegis of the West Bengal Chapter of AAHF to document and share the experiences.

It is encouraging to note that several scientists are researching kunapajala preparations using different ingredients. These preparations have the potential to control pests and diseases. It is recommended that whenever a preparation is found successful, it should be followed by chemical and microbial analyses of treated tea leaves for residues to ensure safety to humans. Also. the new successful preparation should be checked for effects on natural enemies of pests. The process so developed should he patented by the concerned scientists.

The papers presented by two participants were declared as "Best Papers". These were:

i. "Biodiversity study of tea gardens of Darjeeling Hills" by Sanjeeh Pradhan, Project Officer, WWF-India Project. SERVE, Darjeeling.

ii. "Management of tea mosquito (Helopeltis theivora) and thrips (Scirtothrips bispinosus) through traditional/age-old agricultural practice" by Rajesh Pareek, Manager, Tukvar Tea Estate, Darjeeling.