One-day training programme on ‘Forest Technologies for Productivity enhancement and Livelihood’ for the farmers, NGO, and frontline line staff of Ladakh Forest Division was organized at National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR) Leh on August 18.

The training programme was organized by Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, and around 40 participants took part.

Inaugurating the training programme, Sajjad Hussain Mufti, IFS CCF, Ladakh said that the Ladakh region has been bestowed with rich medicinal plants wealth and has tremendous scope to make it a sustainable income generation activity by taking up commercial cultivation of highly valued medicinal plants. He expressed concerns that owing to various biotic and abiotic factors these highly valued medicinal plants are under constant threat and if adequate attention is not paid in time there is every possibility that these may become extinct in near future.

He further added that Juniperus polycarpos  is a very important tree species for the cold desert region of Ladakh and emphasized that plants of the same may be raised in nursery conditions in the Cold Desert.

Dr. Jagdish Singh, Scientist-F detailed the training programme and briefed about the activities of Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla. Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Director, HFRI, Shimla informed that the institute has developed the nursery and plantation technology of Juniperus polycarpos for the first time and raised quality planting material of the same for distribution amongst different stakeholders. Dr. Padma Gurmet, Director, NISR, Leh highlighted the Traditional medicinal plants for healthcare and livelihood.

Dr. Jagdish Singh, Scientist, gave a detailed presentation on “Cultivation of high value temperate medicinal plants for diversification and sustainable income generation” Dr. P.S. Negi, Scientist delivered a lecture on “Nursery and Plantation technology of Shukpa (Juniperus polycarpos)”, Dr. Sandeep Sharma talked about “ Modern nursery and plantation techniques for productivity enhancement” delivered lecture on Sustainable harvesting techniques of important medicinal plants, Stanzin Landol, Technical Officer, CAZRI, Leh, delivered a talk on different Agroforestry practices prevalent in the Cold desert region of Leh Ladakh, and Zuber Ahmed, CEO, Ladakh Organic Farmers Foundation delivered a lecture on Organic farming for sustainable development.