Imphal: Experts have called for urgent measures to document and conserve Manipur’s rich medicinal plant resources while promoting value-added products to harness the state’s potential within the Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot.
The call was made during an awareness programme on Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), locally known as Nungarei, held at the Khongnangthaba University Auditorium.
Speaking at the event, Aribam Guneshwor Sharma, Dean and Director of AYUSH at Khongnangthaba University, said Manipur is home to around 1,200 plant species with medicinal value, but only about 400 have so far been documented by the Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC).
He stressed the need to document the remaining 800 medicinal plant species at the earliest to prevent the loss of valuable traditional knowledge and biological resources.
The programme was jointly organised by Khongnangthaba University and the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) under the Ministry of AYUSH.
Dr Sharma also expressed concern over the declining availability of Shatavari in the region, attributing the situation partly to a lack of public awareness about the plant and its potential uses.
He said the awareness programme was aimed at familiarising people with the plant’s nutritional and traditional medicinal value. According to Sharma, Shatavari has been associated with several health applications, including supporting infant health, memory, reproductive health and menstrual wellness. He also highlighted its reported antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic properties.
Emphasising its economic potential, Sharma said cultivating Shatavari on unused land could provide farmers with an additional source of sustainable income, while also contributing to locally available herbal resources.
The technical session covered various aspects of Shatavari cultivation, therapeutic applications, entrepreneurship opportunities and pharmacognosy. Experts from the AYUSH Hospital, MSME-Technology Centre and Kangleipak Medical and Nursing Institute delivered presentations on the subject.
The programme was attended by several dignitaries, including Director of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS), Manipur, Dr Mayengbam Veto; Khongnangthaba University Vice Chancellor Prof Naorem Joykumar Singh; and Prof R.K. Gambhir Singh.
The discussions highlighted the need to combine scientific documentation, conservation, sustainable cultivation and entrepreneurship to protect Manipur’s medicinal plant wealth while creating livelihood opportunities for local communities.