*'First initiative in Gilgit Baltistan: Promotion and Cultivation of High-Altitude Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Through Community Engagement*
🛑 The production sector of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) is important but seriously neglected in Gilgit Baltistan as well as in Pakistan. Pakistan's existing herbal industry is based on imported raw materials, illegal hidden markets, and limited local production in Punjab, Sindh and KPK.
👉 To develop the production sector of MAPs, A triangular collaborative effort of GBRSP, Forest Department G.B. and PARC-Mountain Agricultural Research Centre (PARC-MARC), Juglote (Sai) Gilgit was put to uplift flood-affected communities' revenue. Different training sessions were conducted on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) cultivation in Gilgit Baltistan, with the aim to empower the communities with the development of sustainable opportunities for livelihoods in the 13 project sites under the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood GLOF-II project (Funded by UNDP Pakistan). This was the leading initiative Taken by Mr. Adnan Wali, Natural Resource Management (NRM) Officer at Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Program (GBRSP), particularly focused on the commercial production of local and exotic MAPs to generate alternate sources of income.
🌲 Mr. Ateeq Ahmad (Forester), a nominee of the Forest Department, presented the understanding of wild collection, cultivation and marketing of indigenous NTFPs/MAPs under the rules and regulations of G.B. Forest Act (Amended), 2020. He has also highlighted the duties and fees for wild collection of MAPs and prescribed plenty to guilty ones as per the Act. Wild resources of forests, i.e., Rangelands, Watershed, Wood and NTFPs/MAPs are the assets of the forest department, which are monitored and controlled by this department, he said.
✔️ Cultivation of MAPs at the commercial level in Gilgit Baltistan can only be achieved through community involvement, as described by MAPs specialist Mr. Yasir Majeed (Scientific Officer, PARC-MARC). He has provided a comprehensive talk on modern technology of MAPs cultivation "Dry Farming", and potential Exotic and Indigenous MAPs for domestic and Global markets. There are great opportunities in Gilgit Baltistan to cultivate MAPs without irrigation to compete with the water scarcity of the region. This technology can turn barren land into productive ones. Potential sites for dry farming were highlighted by Mr. Yasir.
⛔ But there is a need to make joint efforts for the development of future strategies to monitor MAPs cultivation i.e., details of the area and farmers, production potential, land and MAPs species under cultivation along with statistical data etc. Besides this, policies on market planning, route permits and confining illegal harvesting are essential to be finalized at the table meeting.