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Completed Projet - 01

“ Income generation Programme for Rural women through high value medicinal plants cultivation in high altitude villages particularly in flood affected areas of Uttarakhand”



  1. Project Description:
 The project funded by GB Pant National Institute for Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) under IERP programme was implemented in Jakholi block of Rudraprayag district and border villages of Retiree district of Uttarakhand. The main theme of the project was to generate income for rural communities especially women farmers through cultivation of high value RET (Rare Endangered and Threatened) medicinal plants, viz. Atis (Erhonitum tetraphyllum), Kuth (Saussurea costus) and Kutki (Heparrhiza scurruca). The objectives of the project were successfully achieved during the project period. The main achievements of the project are as follows-

  • 100 women farmers from 05 villages (Gorti, Jakholi, Tyunkhar, Uchchana and Uroli) of Jakholi Block of Rudraprayag District, Uttarakhand were selected to start production in cluster approach through formation of 20 Self Help Groups (05 members in each SHG).

  • 03 new commercial cultivation of medicinal plants was established in the form of hybrid crops to deal with the threat from wild animals in the area.

  • 100 new dispensaries were mainstreamed through registration with HRDI (Uttarakhand Government) and made eligible for various schemes of State and Central Government.

  • The project has successfully developed linkages between dispensaries and industries for cultivation and trade of RET medicinal plants. This model can be replicated for other medicinal plants across the country.

  • Conservation and sustainable use of some high value indigenous, endemic and RET species of valuable vegetation was ensured.

  • The outcome of the project will directly help the concerned stakeholders in formulating appropriate strategies for sustainable living of rural communities through production of high value medicinal plants.

  • The protocol was validated to achieve higher engraftment, growth and survival etc. for the selected species.   Processing and value addition protocols for selected varieties were validated.

  • The selected varieties were given classification validation of the germplasm from a recognized scientific institute. All these protocols have practicality and scalability for commercialization of these medicinal plants.

  • Commercial production of QPM (>15 lakh plants) of selected varieties for 05-hectare area was successfully achieved.  Under the project, cultivation of selected medicinal plants was increased from 01 hectares to targeted 10 hectares in the fields of 100 women farmers.

  • As a direct employment activity, a total of 3620 man days were generated by engaging the beneficiaries in various project activities.

  • To support organic cultivation of medicinal plants under the project, about 120 quintals of manure was produced through a vermicomposting system.

  • About 30000 liters of water was collected and stored under the rainwater harvesting system.

  • Suitable climatic conditions, unpolluted water availability and non-use of non-renewable fertilizers provide an opportunity to the local people to grow their crops organically in medium and high altitude areas. In the present case, these local resources were efficiently utilized. 

3. Location of the project (State/Region) (Plain/Hill): 

District Rudraprayag is situated in the hilly region.

4. Name of the Client: 

GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, (Govt. of India), Kosi Katarmal, Almora.

5. Nature of service provided by the applicant: 

The service provided by the applicant is primarily for production, marketing and conservation of medicinal plants. This project was successfully implemented by the institution for increasing the income of the farmers in the border villages of Rudraprayag and Retirement districts. The project resulted in substantial increase in income and/or employment generation of 100 women farmers in 05 selected villages, thereby reducing the problem of income and migration from high altitude villages. Successful demonstration of production and post-harvest techniques for Kuth, Kutki and atish. Successful demonstration of protected cultivation techniques (polyhouse, polytunnel, nethouse, etc.). The objectives of the project were successfully met during the project period, the brief details of which are given above. 

6. Duration of services provided by the application: 

Three years
Start date- 1st April 2016
End date- 31st March 2019

7. Other information related to the project: 

As a major outcome of the project, linkages between the philanthropists and industries were successfully developed for production and trading of RET medicinal plants. And the value chain of the selected species was also developed in the Rudraprayag district. Thus, a proper project payback strategy and self-reliance approach was developed. On the other hand, the conservation and sustainable use of these high value indigenous, local and RET species is also ensured. Overall, it can be envisaged that the outcome of the project will directly help the concerned stakeholders in formulating appropriate strategies for the medicinal plants sector.
Sanction letter of the project


Sanction letter of the project