About NRCMAP

Introduction

        India with its varied agro-climatic conditions and topography has been considered as the botanical garden of the world.  Our herbal wealth constitutes about  5000 species of known medicinal and aromatic plants. The increase in population, rapid expansion of the area under food and commercial crops, deforestation, extension of urban area etc., are the cause for fast depletion of our herbal wealth.  In the recent past plant based industries such as expanded their production causing further pressure to this sector.  Consequently many of the medicinal plants are at the verge of extinction because of over exploitation.  In spite of the spectacular advancement in modern medicines,  the present trend of "Back to the nature" and "Health for all in 21st century" has called for more and more natural and herbal products.  This situation demands a systematic cultivation of these plants and collaboration with non-agricultural institutes at a much higher level than what has been envisaged till now.

Genesis

        The Indian Council of Agricultural Research established National Research Centre for Medicinal & Aromatic Plants on November 24, 1992 in a 20.2 hectare irrigated land at Boriavi in Anand district of Gujarat.        

Location

        National Research Centre for Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Boriavi, Anand is located on Ahmedabad-Bombay rail route.  The centre is 7 km away from Anand Railway station on Anand-Ahmedabad state highway towards Nadiad.  Anand is well connected to all parts of the country by road, rail and Air.  The nearby airports are at Vadodara (45 km) and Ahmedabad (65 km).

       From DAC, GOI, we have acquired a new farm at Lambhvel about a 3 km from the Anand Railway station in Anand- Nadiad road on leas for Rs. 1 per year. This farm has 19.18 ha of land of which 4 ha is for residential complex. A total of 17 residential quarters comprising of one type five and four each of Type-1, Type-II, Type-III and Typ-IV. In about 2 ha  land, a herbal garden with about 200 species of medicinal plants and in about 6 ha, a Arboretum with about 110 species of medicinal trees/herbs are being maintained.  The remaining area is used for general cultivation and seed production of medicinal plants. This farm has wall fencing in its boundary, one 15 HP Submersible Bore well for irrigation, a farm office, a processing unit, a small garden and four poly net houses.