January 30, 2002

Palpa: Lack of knowledge and proper technology is hampering development of the local herbs in Palpa, complain the concerned people.

A Herb Preservation and Consumption Co-operative Limited (HPCCL) has been established here to preserve local herbs and promote their use among the local people. But the cooperative is far from effective yet. Unless urgent measures are taken to preserve the local herbs in the region, they could disappear in the near future, said the workers of HPCCL.

According to the District Forest Office, Palpa is the second district in the western development region to form the forest consumers’ committee and the district’s forests cover nearly 52 per cent of its land area. Valuable herbs can be found in half the forest area of Palpa, it is learnt.

The commonly found herbs here are Tejpat, Kurilo, Timmur, Aamala, Tulsi, Pudina, Harro, Barro, Bojho, Sarpagandha, Nim, Bel, Jamuna.

Some 43 various species of herbs have been identified and further research is going on to find more, according to the District Aayurved Hospital of Palpa.

“Local people, who lack technical knowledge about the herbs, could generate a good income if they are familiarised with them,” said Khadananda Poudel, chief of Aayurved hospital in Palpa.

Hiralal Prasad Kusabaha, the DFO chief, said special care would be taken to save the forests and herbs in the district.