Dehradun, July 11 -- Over the centuries, the Uttarakhand Himalaya is known as 'Ausadhiprasth', which means home to medicinal herbs and plants. Uttarakhand as a new state has been trying hard to re-establish the old identity of Ausadhiprasth. The high altitude geographical regions of the state are the most suitable locations for medicinal and aromatic plants. These high altitude regions are under the Forest Department, which provides limited permits to local villagers to extract medicinal wealth. However, the middle and lower mountain ecological zones are more favourable for commercial farming and processing of traditional food, fruit, vegetable, medicinal and aromatic plants, where farmers can earn their livelihood.

Today the Himalayan A...