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KaMPA implements e-Charak app to track 1,493 species of medicinal plants
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
November 23 , 2016
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Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority (KaMPA) has implemented the
e-Charak app developed by C-DAC, Hyderabad for the National Medicinal
Plants Board (NMPB) to track over the 1493 species of medicinal plants
grown in the state. The Android based-app which is also available as an
online version would simplify access to required herbal flora by
farmers, traders, tribal people and industries.
The key intent
of this platform which is like a ‘herbal mandi’ is to keep the middlemen
operating in the sector at bay. The big benefit is that the app has an
inventory of registered herbal industries, plants and herbs which are
permitted for extraction. It also indicates the availability of the
geographical spread and demand of herbal plants and medicinal herbs.
This information would enable easy access and identification of the
valuable resources, UV Singh, additional principal conservator of
forests, KaMPA told Pharmabiz.
The app is helpful in keeping
tabs on the prices which also charts the sale and purchase. “We are also
preparing a detailed list of medicinal plants grown in the state
especially in the Western Ghat belt which is particularly rich in flora
resources. KaMPA has also unveiled a 365-day campaign to educate herbal
sector raw material vendors and industries,” he added.
The
e-Charak app in addition to raw materials can sell planting material
too. This could enhance the quality of plants. However, it is mandatory
to download the app and register on the same.
The Authority said
that it has linked with 1,100 village forest communities, 200
industries and 60 farmers who grow medicinal plants and 20 large scale
Advasi Multipurpose Society (LAMPS) to collect raw materials legally.
Efforts are on to add on a SMS feature to the app and increase the
number of regional language access to widen the reach and acceptance of
this service.
Going hand-in-hand with this e-Charak app, KaMPA
organises field days for farmers to have a first- hand exposure to
success stories of growers and cultivators of medicinal plants. Here the
industry also participates to indicate their requirements of the raw
materials. Last month, the Authority had organised such an event at
Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district. A similar event will be held at
Mandya on November 22. This would be followed at Udupi, Gadag and
Belagavi.
According to KaMPA, connecting industries with herbal
farmlands would strengthen the supply chain. The region and zones
spanning the Western Ghats covering Uttara and Dakshina Kannada
districts are known for medicinal herb cultivation. Moreover there are
cooperative societies dealing with Ashwagandha, mint and hibiscus where
the industry gets good benefit to be connected with. Therefore, the
Authority views that e-Charak could further bolster sustainable
collection at village forest committees (VFCs).
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