The National AYUSH Mission (NAM), Nagaland, observed the 11th Ayurveda Day on Wednesday with a focus on promoting medicinal plant cultivation, farmer livelihoods and the wider market for Ayurveda-based products.

The programme, organised in collaboration with the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB), Nagaland, was held at Vihokhu village in Niuland and included the launch of distribution and cultivation of Piper longum and Piper retrofractum in the state.

A key feature of the programme was a scientific presentation on Piper cultivation by Jangaiah Mangalaram, Principal Scientist, Dabur India Ltd. The presentation highlighted the scientific approach to medicinal-plant cultivation and the potential for greater utilisation of medicinal plants.

The programme also highlighted the scope of the medicinal-plant sector from “soil to product”, covering cultivation, processing, value addition and development of Ayurveda-based products. It also emphasised the growing global market for medicinal plants and Ayurveda products.

Medicinal plant saplings, including Piper species, were distributed free of cost to participants to encourage practical adoption of medicinal-plant cultivation.

Addressing the programme, Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir said government schemes and support were available, but the lack of a market had remained a major challenge for farmers.

He said the involvement of Dabur provided an opportunity to address the market-related concern, as the company was coming with a market for the produce.

Jamir expressed hope that farmers and the district administration would make the most of the opportunity created through the initiative. He said the Piper species had been introduced in the district and expressed the view that successful cultivation in Niuland could serve as an example for other districts of Nagaland.

The programme sought to link Ayurveda awareness with scientific cultivation of medicinal plants, farmers’ livelihoods and market opportunities, with the initiative aimed at encouraging greater participation in the medicinal-plant sector.