The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre was established in 1991 by Botanist Sheikh Gulzaar , head , who is from an journalism background. The institution is based in Aziz Abad village, Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir. The head of the said institution is Sheikh Gulzaar, who has done serve research in the line of medicinal plants for which he travelled from Kashmir Himalayan mountain tops as well as has crossed glaciers also and has struggled to such an extent that he has created a history.
The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre is continuously researching since 21 years and is in research of medicinal plants and is interested to meet the expectations and needs of the nation. Not only the said The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre is working in the country but throughout the world its research is going on. Sheikh Gulzaar has spent most of his life on Himalayan mountains, footsteps and river banks while he was travelling for the project.
The Head of the the Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre Sheikh Gulzaar is continuously in research of medicinal , fruit plants and wild flowers and have also cultivated some products in his own plant introduction center as such has done a great job which was not even in our mind ever. Some medicinal/fruit plants are Ginkgo biloba , Lycium barbarum , Lavetra cashmerina , Geranium wallichiana , Cichorium intybus , Crocus sativus ,Hyoscyamus niger , Hippophae rhamnoides Inula racemosa, Iris cashmerina , Dioscorea deltodia, Salvia hians , Salvia officinalis, Salvia moorcroftiana, Salvia sclarea , Aquilegia pubiflora, Paeonia emodi,Berberis lyceum , Epimedium elatum, Podophyllum hexandrum , Viola odorata ,Hypericum perforatum , Peganum harmala , Aesculus indica, Ajuja bracteosa , Sambucus wightiana, Taxus baccata, Verbascum Thapsus, Valeriana officinalis, Atropa belladonna, Atropa acuminate, Artemisia absinthium, Achillea millefolium, Allium victoralis, Colchicum luteum,Phytolacca acinosa, Saussurea costus, Corylus avellana etc.
Medicinal plants are having a good demand not only in the country but abroad also. Buy cultivating such plants the institution has till date provided such plants to about 34 thousand research institutions, individuals & progressive farmers and in this way he has helped the researchers but have provided such plants to them time to time with the result the said institution has earned a good fame in the country as well as have given training to so many unemployed and educated youth of the country hence in this way they are able to earn their livelihood. The institution has received about 7880 applications since 1994 for giving full descriptions regarding such plants as well as identity ,birth, botanical information and family structure of such plants and its benefits as well as they have been given letter of originty, Phytosanitary information & letter of authenticity , with the result such fellows have been absolutely helped in carrying over their research forward. The real thing is to know the full description and identity of such plants which has been provided by the said. Sheikh Gulzaar , otherwise the researchers would have not been in know of all the benefits of such plants.
As the Kashmir vale is one of the cold region of Himalaya and the season of valley is not trustworthy here remains, cold temperature, snowfall fast winds etc., with the result the public are suffering and every year huge losses are being faced by us as well as research job is also being affected, because due to non-availability of high-tech green houses, so many valuable plants dies due to extensive heat or cold and we requested so many times to Government to provide us proper place near high altitude so that we may be able to cultivate other countries medicinal , wild flowers and fruit plants here also . I have also secured hundreds of seeds from Europe, Middle East and Africa and have planted them in different areas and has obtained seeds from them as well as medicines, but it is difficult as the said seeds are only being sowing in such areas where the atmosphere will be neat and clean, by this way we are not only getting help in research job but we are making it possible to cultivate such plants which has not been actually given any attention. In this research I am facing such difficulties but also I am bearing 3-5 thousand s expenses per plant/tree. E.g. I am planting a tree near the mountains of South Kashmir then after 2-6 months I have to take the same seedling to high altitude and have to plant in such plants a place where there will be no rush of general public or animals just keep it as a secret. When such plants become ready then we are obtaining seeds from them .
Till date government of Jammu and Kashmir as has not helped us in any way, we have got on lab or other high-tech facilities so that our job will become easy and we are not using any chemicals, fertilizer etc. for such medicinal plants nor other technology but we are dependent upon organics fertilizers i.e. biomass, peat, manure plant leaves, tree barks but to obtain such items we have to work hard as such the public is not hesitating to purchase our seeds and our target remains always upon such medicinal plants which is having demand in the market for ever. We first see what plants are in demand and accordingly get the seeds/planting stock . We fertilize strictly depending upon our pre fixed schedules, and we use only specific insecticides and pesticides, he maintains . We mix a lot of coco peat into our soil mediums as water issues have become paramount. All around the Kashmir soil quality has become terrible because of excess use of chemical fertilizers; we use vermicompost and other organic content into the soil. Most of our issues are sorted out if we do these things in a systematic manner without compromising.
My main target is practical and Research & Development and I am feeling too much due to adverse conditions of the Himalayan state of Kashmir as I have not been given any help by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. As my whole job is land or agriculture that even the same needs at high altitude. To invest for upliftment of J&K I have to make my focus on Kashmir Himalaya for cultivating such plants to obtain medicines which can be used for Cancer disease also and second main focus will be Food Technology as our country is presently facing heavy danger of Cancer and shortage of food and I will do my struggle till last breath. At present my main project is “ High Altitude Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre “ where I am working and have to collect the data and if at this time the Government will cooperate and help me than I will meet the ends of success. We must note it that in future we will have clothes, homes but the food and medicine s will be short as such shortage has to fulfill. We are living under the open sky that is right but living without food and medicine is IMPOSSIABLE.