The CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, and National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday for the establishment of the Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre (RCFC) at the institute.
A CSIR-NEIST official informed that the MoU was signed during a virtual meeting by the CSIR-NEIST Director Dr. G Narahari Sastry and Dr. JLN Sastry, CEO, NMPB.
The official stated that the proposed RCFC at the institute will act as a one-stop centre for the growers, cultivators, researchers, traders and other stakeholders of medicinal plants.
The institute will function in close co-ordination with State Medicinal Plants Boards, the State implementing agency of the medicinal plants component of the AYUSH Mission in the north-eastern region.
The official mentioned that the RCFC is also expected to provide a service window for growers of medicinal plants, support conservation, development, marketing, cultivation of medicinal plants
It will also provide hand-holding support to stakeholders in terms of technology dissemination and in establishing primary processing facilities.
The official further informed that in a related development the CSIR-NEISTon Thursday organized a webinar on the topic ‘Science, technology and skill development in medicinal, aromatic plants for rural development in the Northeast.