A UYRDC self-facilitated farmer cooperative strengthening initiative in alliance with state government agencies, augmenting partners and Government cooperation.

Objective :

Promulgating conservation and cultivation of endangered herbs via agroecology practices. Strengthening agrarian economic returns via pursuing exsitu cultivation of endemic alpine endangered herbs (High Altitude – sub alpine farming communities of Kailganga valley, Village Ghesh, District Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

Project area :

Villages Ghesh, Khikola, Sarmatha, Himani, District Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

Networking Partners and Cooperation :

Strengthening Kamgar Swayat Sahkarita (Herbal Farmer Cooperative), Volunteering and Collaborating with national and internation agencies for technological and sustained market guidance, state agencies HAPPRC (Technical Guidance), HRDI Gopeshwar (Technical & Farmer registration Support), Government Cooperation (Forest Department, State Biodiversity Board, WCCB, New Delhi, National Biodiversity Authority, Organic certification).

Project genesis :

Situated in pristine high hinterlands of District Chamoli, Uttarakhand State, Village Ghes (Kailganga Watershed), once 27 km away from road is today among progressive herbal villages of Uttarakhand. The journey has been much enduring and testament to the never give up spirits of farming community. Uttaranchal Youth and Rural Development Centre (UYRDC) intervened since 2001 in collaboration with government institutions (TIFAC, New Delhi & HAPPRC – Uttarakhand) to pursue farmers in herbal endeavour with the vision to overcome apathy and destitute living in furthest of hamlets. Intervention days of arduous track of 27 km since 2001 to road connectivity in recent years (2013 since), has been long and a worthwhile initiative.

Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa) the divine endangered herb, is immense priority Herbs of Ayurveda/Charak Samhita. The herb is immensely revered panacea for treating Liver disorders with numerable health benefits enlisted in Ayurvedic scripters). It has been since promulgated under cultivation with pivotal herbs Kuth (Sausuuria Costus), Atees (Aconitum Heteropyllum), Choru (Angelica Glauca) and native cold temperate crops. Beginning Kutki & allied herb cultivation milestone with 10 farmers in 2001, today the number has spread to more than 500 farmers intra and multitude watersheds of the region. National and international agencies in Collaboration with UYRDC have further strengthened farmer cooperation from cultivation to post harvest processing for nurturing the need of national and global consumers. It has paved the milestone by collaborating with the farmers, the herbal farmer cooperative, government institutions and friends of herbal growers (national and international agencies) for marketing grower’s herbs to national and overseas corporations. UYRDC cherishes the support of Dunagiri Foundation, USA in supporting herbal enterprise reach in global market.

UYRDC established a self-reliant cooperative “Kamgar Swayat Sahkarita” of Ghesh farmers, year 2006. This rural farmer cooperative is being an exporter and the first ever in the state to trade the herb from hinterlands to international markets since 2009 (Europe & US). The herb been traded for Rs.270/kg in year 2001 is today being traded for Rs.1500/kg to innumerable consumers. Farmer remuneration is to the tune of Rs.30,000/Nali (i.e. Rs.6 Lakh/acre). The journey has therefore come far since 2001, standing the test of time amongst ensuing bottlenecks, with overcoming innumerable milestone and accolades. Thus translating into economic remunerability, ecology sustainability of endangered flora/herbs. However, the much awaited recognition and facilitation to further pursue the goals of herbal biodiversity promulgation and community prosperity had been much desired.

Year 2018 – 2019 promoted farmers efforts in a new stride, by celebrating herbal fair “Kutki Mahotsav” in recognition of farmer endeavour to conserve and promulgate native endemic herbs of the Himalayas. For the first time, herbal fair in farmer village was being celebrated in Uttarakhand state. The Honorable Ayush Minister, GOI and Honorable Chief Minister commemorated the event.

Mela key notes :

• 1. Establishing Village Ghes as first Ayush Gram (herbal Village) in the state.
• 2. Recognition to farmers as conservationist, promoters of sensitive, endangered native Himalayan national biodiversity.
• 3. Farmer empowerment and strengthening in herbal endeavour.
• 4. Support to farmer from the government on resource augmentation and creation of enabling herbal endeavour ecosystem.
• 5. Commemoration as pioneer rural farmer Cooperative in the state to self – export herbs (Kutki herb) in the global market.