The State Medicinal Plant Board (SMPB), Union Territory of Ladakh, organised a Medicinal Plant Identification Camp-cum-Herbal Garden Open Day on September 22 at the CSIR-IIIM Experimental Research & Development Station/Farm, Palam, Leh, as part of the celebrations of the 11th Ayurveda Day 2026.

Students of Classes 5 to 10 of Government High School, Shey, along with their teaching faculty, participated in the programme. The programme was organised with the objective of creating awareness among students about the importance of medicinal plants, their identification, traditional uses, cultivation, conservation and sustainable utilisation.

Dr Phunchok Angmo, Consultant (Botany), State Medicinal Plant Board, UT Ladakh, highlighted the significance of Ayurveda Day and the importance of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare systems. She also spoke about the need to promote the cultivation, conservation and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants, particularly in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem of Ladakh. She encouraged the students to develop an interest in learning about the region’s valuable medicinal plant resources and contributing towards their conservation.

A technical session was delivered by Zabir Ahmed, Technical Assistant, CSIR-IIIM, who provided the students with practical information on the identification of selected medicinal plants, their uses, cultivation methods and conservation practices. The session helped the students understand the distinguishing features and significance of various medicinal plants and the importance of their sustainable management.

The students also visited the herbal garden at the CSIR-IIIM Experimental Research & Development Station/Farm, where they observed different medicinal plant species and learned about their characteristics and uses. The programme provided an interactive learning opportunity through field-level observation and interaction with technical experts.

The programme emphasised the importance of imparting knowledge about medicinal plants to the younger generation and creating awareness regarding their identification, cultivation, conservation and sustainable utilisation. Such initiatives are aimed at fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Ladakh’s rich medicinal plant diversity.

The State Medicinal Plant Board expressed its gratitude to the CSIR-IIIM Experimental Research & Development Station/Farm, Palam, for facilitating the programme and to Government High School, Shey, for the active participation of its teaching faculty and students.

The programme concluded with an emphasis on the need for continued awareness and educational activities to promote the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plant resources of Ladakh, in the spirit of the 11th Ayurveda Day 2026.