 |
OPEN
UNIVERSITY - Herbal Education
|
Proposal By - Pankaj Oudhia
One of my dreams in life is to establish an Open University on herbs. Thank you for reading my proposal.
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights ReservedP. OUDHIA
CONTENTS
(I) Introduction.
(A) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - World Scenario.
(B) Status of Medicinal and Aromatic plants in Chhattisgarh.
(II) Role and need of certificate, diploma and Advanced diploma courses of different aspects of medicinal and aromatic plants. (Ill) Scope of certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses in different aspects of medicinal and aromatic plants.
(A) Proposed certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses.
(B) Utility of proposed courses to different groups of people.
(I) Scope for farmers
(II) Scope for new enterpreuners. (Ill) Scope for Agricultural and forest officers and village level workers.
(IV) Scope for workers at financial institutions.
(V) Scope for other interested peoples.
(IV) Schedule of Different courses.
(A) Schedule for Certificate and Advanced diploma courses.
(B) Schedule for Diploma courses.
(V) Course Curriculum.
(A) Course Curriculum for Certificate in Herbal Cultivation (CHC) Course Curriculum for Diploma in Herbal Cultivation (DHC)
(B) Course Curriculum for Certificate in Herbal Marketing Management (CHMM). Course Curriculum for Diploma in Herbal Marketing Management (DHMM).
(C) Course Curriculum for Certificate in Herbal Nursery Management (CHNM) Course Curriculum for Diploma in Herbal Nursery Management (DHNM)
(D) Course Curriculum for Certificate in Organic Farming of Herbs (COFH) Course Curriculum for Diploma in Organic Farming of Herbs (DOFH)
(VI) Admission Procedure.
(A) Eligibility Criteria
(B) Total Nos. Of students for different courses
(C) Details about Academic fees.
(D) Fees Norms.
(VII) Proposed Courses.
1. INTRODUCTION
(A) Medicinal anti Aromatic Plants - World Scenario According to World Health Organisation (WHO) more than I billion people rely on herbal medicines to some extent. The WHO has listed 21,000 plants that have reported medicinal uses around the world.
India has a rich medicinal plant flora of some 2500 species. Of these, 2000 to 2300 species are used in traditional medicines while at least 150 species are used commercially on a fairly large scale. India and Brazil are the largest exporters of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants in India are estimated to be worth Rs. 550 crore, Ayurvedic ethical formulations contribute the remaining sum. Cosmetic industry as well as aroma therapy are two important areas where Indian medicinal plants and their extracts, essential oil can contribute globally. Medicinal and aromatic plants have a high market potential with the world demand of herbal products growing of the rate of 7 percent per annum.
(B) Status of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh is bestowed with a wealth of medicinal and aromatic plants, most of which have been traditionally used in Ayurveda, Yunani system of medicines and tribal healers for generations. Chhattisgarh is rich in bit diversity. Many valuable and rare medicinal and aromatic plants have bee reported from this state. Bastar, the southern plateau of Chhattisgarh, holds reputed position in world bio-diversity map for its unique bio-diversity. The forests of Chhattisgarh are rich in herbs useful in treatment of common ailments to lethal diseases like blood cancer. Bhramar mar for cancer, Satawar, Safe Moosli, Kali Moosli, Asgandh for promising tonic, Kukronda and Adusa for respiratory trouble, Gudmar and Sadasuhagan for Diabetes, Bramhi and Bach for memory, Kalmegh for chronic fever, Sarpagandha and Arjun for heart troubles are some examples of miracle herbs found in Chhattisgarh. Sanjivni booty, the miracle herb used for the treatment of Lakshman, grow in abundant in this state.
Due to different Agro climatic regions, the medicinal flora vary from different regions. For example the flora of Bastar is entirely different from the flora of Sarguja. This uniqueness has made the Chhattisgarh even more rich in terms of natural forest resources. About 300 rare and useful medicinal and aromatic plants have bee reported from Chhattisgarh. From last two decades due to heavy exploitation of natural medicinal plants, its availability is continuously decreasing. Sarpagandha Aloe and Gloriasa once in abundance, now they have became rare plants in these regions. The availability of wonderful herb Safed Moosli is also continuously increasing in the state. In order to reduce the tremendous pressure on forests generated due to heavy demand of theses herbs in national and international drug market, the conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants has become a need of the day.
II. ROLE AND NEED OF CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA AND ADVANCED DIPLOMA COURSES ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS.
Chhattisgarh is rich in bio-diversity. In spite of huge bio-diversity and traditions of use of medicinal and aromatic herbs, we have not been able to utilize opportunities and exploit its hidden potential. Sadly many of the potential herbs are not known to the scientific world and of those known many are over exploited leading to their extinction or listing them as endangered or threatened plants. Somehow a way has to be found to domesticate and cultivate herbs. Due to continuous efforts of many environmental agencies, now government is also planning to impose a ban on collection of medicinal and aromatic herbs from its natural habitat. Although a plant collected from the wild lay fetch three times as much as a cultivated variety, but because of strict legal regulations, now farmers are trying to cultivate the medicinal plants. Today more than 500 farmers are cultivating about 30 species of medicinal and aromatic herbs n fairly large areas. Many species like Safed Moosli, are having largest acreage a the world.
It is a plus point for the farmers of Chhattisgarh that the produce resulted from the cultivation of medicinal plants in crop fields are not much different to produce collected from the forests. This is due to the favourable situation and environment of the Chhattisgarh region. Many studies conducted on medicinal and aromatic herbs of Chhattisgarh have revealed that the differences in alkaloid content of major medicinal plants are negligible when the contents of cultivated and natural products are compared. The climatic and edaphic conditions of Chhattisgarh are suitable for commercial cultivation of more than 50 potential plants including Safed Moosli, Satawar, Asgandh, Akarkara, Sarpagandha, Bach, Ratanjot, Aloe, Senna, Gymnema, Mucuna etc.
Chhattisgarh is known as 'Rice bowl of India'. Rice is one of the traditional crops of this state. But low production and poor market have made his crop high risk crop. Seeing the scope, demand and ease in cultivation, now more and more Chhattisgarh farmers are taking interest in commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic herbs, but due to lack of proper technical guidance, they are in dilemma. Lack of proper technical guidance in cultivation and poor information on processing and marketing, are discouraging the herb growers of the state as well as the young enthusiastic new farmers. There is a strong need to educate the farmers, young enterpreuners, local herb exporters, bank persons etc. about the different aspects of medicinal and aromatic herbs from identification to marketing in national and international drug markets. To root out this problem and to fulfil this need the concept of different certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses in herbs has been proposed by the Dream Organisation (DO)
III. SCOPE OF CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA AND ADVANCED DIPLOMA COURSES IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HERBS.
The courses proposed by Dream Organisation are unique and pioneer courses in he world and will put the Chhattisgarh state in more prominent place in the world scenario in herbal field. The proposed courses are useful for young graduates, traditional farmers, herb growers, bank persons. Agriculture officers, housewives, local businessmen, herb processors, as the courses on herbal cultivation, processing and marketing are prepared. These courses are designed in simple language so that it can be useful for wider groups. All these courses are correspondences courses. Anyone working anywhere in the world can participate in these courses without disturbing their present work. This uniqueness of these courses will be of great help to departmental people waiting since long time for there term to take higher education as in service candidate. In this system, concerned person take a leaves for entire duration of course with full payment. With the help of proposed courses, interested people will be able to learn about herbs without affecting their present jobs and routine work. The course on herbal cultivation will be of great help to young farmers who are in search of genuine reading material and technical guidance. In this course, complete agronomic practices of top ten medicinal and aromatic crops will be covered. The main speciality of these courses particularly the diploma and advanced diploma courses, is educational visit and practical training in herbal research farm of Dream Organisation situated in village near the capital.
(A) Proposed Certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses.
(A) Certificate Courses.
(1) Certificate in Herbal Cultivation (CHC)
(2) Certificate in Herbal Marketing Management (CHMM)
(3) Certificate in Herbal Nursery Management (CHNM)
(4) Certificate in Organic Farming of Herbs (COFH)
(B) Diploma Courses
(1) Diploma in Herbal Cultivation (DHC)
(2) Diploma in Herbal Marketing Management (DHMM)
(3) Diploma in Herbal Nursery Management (DHNM)
(4) Diploma in Organic Farming of Herbs (DOFH)
(C) Advance Diploma courses
(1) Advance Diploma in Herbal Cultivation (ADHC)
(2) Advance Diploma in Herbal Marketing Management (ADHMM)
(3) Advance Diploma in Herbal Nursery Management (ADHNM)
(4) Advance Diploma in Organic Farming of Herbs (ADOFH)
Duration of Different Courses.
(1) Certificate Courses - 6 Months.
(2) Diploma Courses - 2 Year
(3) Advance Diploma Courses - 6 Months.
Eligibility for these courses
(A) Eligibility criteria of certificate courses.
(1) Matriculation passed with minimum 55% Marks.
(B) Utility of proposed courses to different groups of people.
(1) Scope for farmers Different courses proposed by Dream Organisation will provide complete information of potential medicinal and aromatic crops suitable for commercial cultivation in India with special reference to Chhattisgarh. The detailed information on identification, procurement of proper planting material, yearly farm planning for herb production land selection, soil testing, land preparation, soil solarisation, sowing method, seed rate, suitable climate, best and promising varieties, inter culture operations, pest managements, improved method to enhance the growth and quality of herbs, method and time of harvesting, scientific storage and processing, establishment of distillation plants, potential markets etc. will help the farmers and encourage them to go for commercial cultivation of rare and valuable medicinal and aromatic herbs which finally help the Chhattisgarh government. The educational visits and practical training at herbal Research Farm of Dream Organisation will help the farmers to got complete information on both theoretical and practical aspects. In Chhattisgarh, everyday thousands of rural youths travel many Kilo meters from their villages to cities in search of employment. These courses will help them to stay in their villages and encourage them to adopt new crops with more advantages as compared to traditional crops. The courses on organic farming, will help in reducing the cost of chemical inputs in herb farming, improving the quality of herbal products and saving the unique and pure environment of Chhattisgarh.
(II) Scope for new enterpreuner and Youngesters :-
Herb business is relative a new business. Increasing demand of Indian herbs in international drug markets, is attracting businessmen particularly the young generation to enter in this business. Young generation is full of enthusiasm and ready to take risk for the international market. At present, due to lack of information about market and herbal market management, they are hesitating to enter in this field. The courses proposed by Dream Organisation will not only educate these young enterpreuners about the potential market in India and abroad but also help them in search of potential herbs that are not explored by anyone before. How to communicate with foreign buyers ? How to use Internet as promising tool for global marketing ? Etc. will be the part of these courses. The students of these courses will become a successful herb dealers and these successful herb dealers will provide new opportunities to Chhattisgarh farmers by assuring them to buy back their products. As more and more farmers are coming in herb business, the demand of persons with technical expertise in herbs is increasing. The courses of Dream Organisation will contribute a lot preparing an army of technical experts.
(III) Scope for agriculture and forest officers and village level workers: As the area under medicinal and aromatic crops are increasing due to the efforts by innovative farmers, now more and more farmers are taking interest in these promising crops. Not much has been written and informative literatures are unavailable on cultivation and marketing aspects of medicinal and aromatic crops. Due to lack of proper information, the workers of Agriculture and forest departments are facing a lot of problems in interaction with farmers. They are in close contact with the farmers. There is not much enough time to train all the workers by sending them for advance courses in traditional universities. The correspondence courses proposed by Dream Organisation will educate these officer enough to guide the farmers. The reading material supplied by the Dream Organisation during course period will serve as a reference literatures for these officers. This is the common observation that forest officers are poor in identification of herbs. Lack of taxonomists in our country is a root of this problem. The proposed courses will educate the forest officers in detail about the identification of different herbs with the help of specially and specifically prepared course materials.
(IV) Scope for workers of finance departments : Chhattisgarh farmers, particularly the herb growers are facing many problems in procuring a loan for their new crops i.e. medicinal and aromatic crops. The finance departments of different institute are in dilemma because they have eager to finance the growers of these new crops. They are not aware of medicinal and aromatic crops, about its cultivation expenses, profitability and marketability. These proposed courses will provide an authentic information on these important aspects in details. By completing a diploma course, officers of these departments will not only be able to understand the projects of farmers but they can give suggestions to the farmers.
(V) Scope for other interested peoples ;- Not only in India, but peoples of every corner of the world are influenced by the healing power of Indian herbs and its bio-diversity hot spots specially of Chhattisgarh. In our country, many of peoples including housewives are taking interest in different aspects of herbs. These courses will educate the national and international herb growers about Indian herbs with full details.
IV. SCHEDULE FOR DIFFERENT COURSES :
V. (A) Schedule for Certificate and advanced diploma courses.
The duration of certificate courses will be six months.
Month Academic Activities
1. 1st Month Dispatch of First lot of Reading Material.
2. Lind Month Dispatch of Second lot of Reading Material
3. IIIrd Month Dispatch of Third lot of Reading material. (First Forthnight) Dispatch of question papers and Feed back. Councelling for interested students at Dream Organisation with faculty members (Second Fortnnight)
4. IV the Month Dispatch of Fourth lot of Reading Material
5. Vth Month Dispatch of fifth & Sixth lot of Reading Material.
6. Vlth Month Feedback (At First fortnight) and 20th of the month., the final examination will be held, at different centres all over India. For foreign students test (through correspondences) will be taken.
(B) Schedule for Diploma Courses.
The duration of Diploma courses will be fjfie year.
Month Academic Activities
1. Ist Month Dispatch of First lot of Reading material.
2. Lind Month Dispatch of Second lot of Reading material.
3. IIIr Month Dispatch of question papers and feed back. Counselling for interested students at Dream Organisation with faculty inembers.
4. Ivth Month Dispatch of third lot of Reading material.
5. Vth Month Dispatch of fourth lot of Reading Material.
6. Vlth Month Dispatch of question papers and Feed back. Counselling for interested students at Dream Organisation. With faculty members.
7. Vllth Month Dispatch of fifth lot of Reading material
8. Vlllth Month Dispatch of Sixth lot of Reading material
9. Ixth Month Dispatch of question papers and Feed back counselling.
10. Xth Month Educational visits and Practical training
11. Xlth Month
12. Xllth Month On 20th of XII month the final examination will be held at different centers all over India. For foreign students test through correspondence will be taken.
V. COURSE CURRICULUM
(A) Certificate in Herbal Cultivation (CHC) Diploma in Herbal Cultivation (DHC)
(I) Introduction to Medicinal and Aromatic Crops.
(II) Introduction to Basic botany. (Ill) Cultivation of medicinal crops.
(IV) Cultivation of aromatic crops.
(V) Post-harvest management of medicinal and aromatic crops.
(VI) Introduction of herbal marketing.
(B) Certificate in Herbal Marketing Management (CHMM) Diploma in Herbal Marketing Management (DHMM)
(I) Introduction to/medicinal and Aromatic crops. '
(II) Introduction to Basic botany. (Ill) Medicinal and Aromatic crops: National and International scenario.
(IV) Introduction to International standards for herbs.
(V) Introduction to Herbal Marketing Management.
(VI) Business communication.
(C) Certificate in Herbal Nursery Management (CHNM)
Diploma in Herbal Nursery Management (DHNM)
(I) Introduction to Medicinal and Aromatic crops.
(II) Introduction to Basic botany. (Ill) Establishment of Herbal Nursery.
(IV) Management of Herbal Nursery 1. Medicinal Crops.
(V) Management of Herbal Nursery II. Aromatic Crops.
(VI) Introduction to Herbal Marketing.
(D) Certificate in Organic farming of Herbs (COFH) Diploma in Organic farming of Herbs (DOFH)
(I) Introduction to Medicinal and Aromatic crops.
(II) Introduction to Basic botany. (Ill) Concept of Organic farming.
(IV) Organic farming practices 1. Medicinal Crops.
(V) Organic farming practices II. Aromatic Crops.
(VI) Introduction to organic herbal market in India and abroad.
VI. ADMISSION PROCEDURE
(A) Eligibility Criteria
(I) Eligibility for Certificate and Diploma Courses -
1. Minimum qualification - Matriculation from recognised board.
2. Special preference will be given to poor and small farmers and students belonging to schedule tribe, caste and other backward classes.
(II) Eligibility for Advanced diploma courses -
1. Diploma in selected field completed from Dream Organisation
(B) Total Numbers of students
(A) No. Of students for Certificate courses.
(B) No. Of students for Diploma courses.
(C) No. Of students for Ad. Diploma courses.
(C) Details about Academic Fees
(A) Fees for Diploma Courses :- 15,000 Rs. / annum Indian students. (550 US $ Foreign Students.
Details (a) Tution Fees 10,000 Rs. / annum
(b) Education Tour 03,000 Rs. / annum
and practical training
(c) Examination Fees 03,000 Rs. / annum
(d) Misc. 02,000Rs. / annum
Total fees per student 15,000 Rs. / annum
(B) Fees for Certificate Courses :- 8,000 Rs. / annum Indian students. (350 US $ Foreign Students.
Details (a) Tution Fees 6,000 Rs. / annum
(b) Examination Fees 02,000 Rs. / annum
Total fees per student 08,000 Rs. / annum
(D) Fees Norms
(a) The cost of reading material included in this fees.
(b) Lodging, food and other expenses during councelling are not included in this fees.
(c) Special concession for poor and SC/ST Students.
(d) Special concession for sponsored students (Govt. / Bank/ NGOs)
(e) Special concession for farmers.