Health minister distributes 20,000 citronella saplings to farmers of four districts
Source: IT News

Imphal, October 20 2019: Health & family Welfare Minister L.Jayantakumar Singh has distributed Citronella saplings to the farmers of four different districts today.

Citronella plants are also known as Houna in local name.

Citronella/Houna is a kind of plant with high medicinal and aromatic value.

It is also costly at the local and international market.

The saplings were distributed to the farmers at free of cost.

Speaking at the sapling distribution programme held at Uchekon Changangei, Imphal West, Minister Jayantakumar maintained that the distribution of citronella saplings is taken up as first phase for five selected districts i.e. Kangpokpi, Chandel, Thoubal and Imphal West.

The remaining districts will be covered in the next phase.

He said that the saplings are being distributed under the aegis of Manipur State Medicinal Plant Board.

The saplings have been brought from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, Jorhat, Assam in consultation with the expert and scientists of CSIR with the objective of wide cultivation of citronella in the state.

Cultivation of this plant will help the growers to generate their income upto some extend, he added.

Minister Jayantakumar maintained that marketing facilities of the product will also be arranged by the government.

For this purpose, outlets have been opened in all districts.

Minister also said that Distillation plant for citronella will be installed in Manipur by ICAR in the month of December.

Minister also appealed the progressive farmers to be enthusiastic and promote the growth of this plant.

Speaking at the occasion CEO, Manipur Medicinal Plant Board, A.Guneshor Sharma said that citronella plant can be used for manufacturing white phenol, mosquito repellant, antiseptic cream/ ointment, antifungal purposes etc.

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