Former headmaster grows medicinal plants, asks farmers to diversify for better income
A graduate in agricultural science, Joga Singh, former head of a government school, has launched a crusade to persuade young farmers and the unemployed youth to elevate their economic status by growing medicinal plants in all spaces available with them.
Joga Singh has developed a Nature View Nursery Farm at Sangala village in Amargarh assembly segment where he invites his prospective pupils for in-situ examination of vegetative and reproductive phases of various medicinal plants including insulin (Costus igneus), cardamom, cinnamon, asafoetida, curry tree, ajwain (carom seeds), tej leaves (Indian bay leaves), coriander, basil and fennel.
“While growing medicinal and culinary plants near your habitation is more eco-friendly and remunerative, it will also promote inclusion of natural herbs having medicinal value in our food,” argued Joga Singh while appreciating that several agricultural families had followed his pattern to elevate their economic status after visiting his two-acre herbal farm. Joga Singh stresses on the need for diversification with medicinal and culinary plants to rescue debt-ridden small and marginal farmers from the vicious cycle of poverty.
Joga Singh says that his endeavour is multidimensional, with focus on environmental protection, transformation from chemical-dependent agriculture to natural, herbal and organic-intensive ayurvedic farming, exploiting offline and online channels for spreading awareness among the masses.
Claiming that all parts of plants grown by him in his herbal garden carried medicinal and therapeutic value in some measure, Joga Singh said segregation and concentration of extracts of medicinal plants can help establish clinics for treatment of chronic ailments like diabetes, pulmonary diseases and gastroenteritis.
Joga Singh has also launched a YouTube platform for educating people about the usefulness of herbs, organic farming and eco-friendly practices through his videos. Through this platform, he tries to inspire people to take interest in a clean, simple lifestyle and self-reliance.
MLA, Amargarh, Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra said personnel in the Horticulture Department led by Deputy Director, Horticulture, Dr Sandeep Singh Grewal have been asked to act as a bridge between Joga Singh and potential beneficiaries of his venture.
“We have asked the officials concerned to make optimum use of Joga Singh’s efforts to implement the policies of Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for upgrading economic status of farmers of the region,” said Gajjanmajra, adding that the Punjab Government was taking many steps to make small and marginal farmers economically self-reliant and increase the income of horticulturists through crop diversification.
Ludhiana