CSIR, IORA join hands for herbal research

New Delhi: In a major move aimed at giving a push to research in ayurvedic medicines, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has entered into a MoU with the Regional Center for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for designating Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow (CSIR-CIMAP) as Coordinating Center on medicinal plants.

As per the MoU, the IORA Center at CSIR-CIMAP would establish a database on the important medicinal plants, their value added products, related experts and industries of the IORA member states and organize meetings and training programmes to promote trade, commerce and scientific exchanges to complement the strength and limitation of the member states.

Speaking on the occasion, CSIR Director General Girish Sahni said that the CSIR has developed expertise and contributed in solving hundreds of problems of people.

On the occasion, IORA's Secretary General Nomvuyo Nokwe expressed the hope that the coordination center would promote cooperation in the area of traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants for the welfare of the people of IORA member states.

Earlier in December, the Ayush Ministry in collaboration with Commerce

Ministry and traders' body had organised Arogya-2017

to provide a global recognition of herbal products of the country.

During a roundtable meeting with traders, ayurvedic drug maker KK Sharma, who represents AIMIL Pharmaceuticals, had highlighted the issue of unavailability of quality raw materials for manufacturing of ayurvedic medicines and herbal products.