Introduction to Medicinal plants

What are medicinal plants?

Plants that provide people with medicines to,

• Prevent diseases
• Maintain health
• Cure ailments

• Various types of plants are used in herbalism and some of these plants have medicinal activities

• They are rich resources of ingredients which can be used in drug development and synthesis

• They play a critical role in the development of human cultures around the world and considered as an important source of nutrition
• It is the original material of herbal medicine

Introduction to Weeds in Sri Lanka

Weeds can be simply explained as plants that grow in an unwanted place. i.e. A rose plant that is grown in a vegetable cultivated field is considered as a weed. Weeds cause considerable economic losses to the farmer, if it is not manage properly.  Weeds compete with the cultivated crops for water, sunlight, nutrients and other factors required for plant growth. Weeds are more adaptive to growing environment than the crops. As a result, weeds grow better at the expense of the cultivated crops. So, it is really important to focus on managing the weed infestation. controlling of the weeds can be a costly operation if it not managed properly (Managing of weed infestation is economically more advantageous than controlling/eradicating them).

Organic Agriculture Certification in Sri Lanka

Why We Need Organic Agriculture

• Organic agriculture ensures the good quality of the food people consume
• Reduce the health issues created by inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and etc.
• Reduce the environmental pollution issues caused by agriculture and promote the sustainability in agriculture 

What is the Importance of Organic Agriculture Certification

• Organic agriculture certification provides the proof  and certifies relevant agri-product is produced according to the requirements of organic agriculture
• Establish the trust between the farmer/agriculture organization and consumer/buyer

What Can be Certified in Organic Agriculture

• All cultivatable crops
• Wild collection
• Animal husbandry
• Aquaculture
• Mushroom
• Honey
• Fiber
• Timber
• off farm inputs

Who/What are eligible for certification

• Individual farms and groups (large scale farms, small holder organizations and etc.)
• Agricultural products processors
• Agricultural products packers
• Agricultural products retailers
• Agricultural commodities traders/exporters

Principles of Organic Certification

• Agreed production and processing standard (what needs to be done)
• Agreed verification procedures (how is it checked)
• Neutral body that verifies the compliance (who guarantees)

Key Areas in Organic Certification 

• Defining the production unit; i.e. Tea, Paddy, Vegetable
• Parallel production is not allowed; i.e. cultivation of same crop in organic and conventional method 
• Conversion from conventional to organic agriculture normally take 3 - 4 years
• Inputs of production should be acceptable; i.e. manure, seeds
• GMOs, growth hormones, fumigation, radiation should be avoided
• Traceability  of product flow
• All the activities should be documented
• package, transport, storage, labeling should follow required standards
• Packaging should be food grade
• Transportation should not damage the product
• Storage should be separated according to the commodity
• Label should include organic agriculture certified logo
• Inspection and certification of entire production chain should be done at least once a year
• Transparency in communication and information exchange

Certification Methods

• First party certification - Farmer certifies their products are organic
• Second party certification - The Organization to which the farmer belongs certifies the products are organic
• Third party certification - An inspector from a certifying agency certifies the products are organic

Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB) 

• All the third party agencies which gives the organic certification must be accredited by SLAB

Steps in an Third Party Inspection and Certification System

• Applying for an organic agriculture certification to a certifier
• Estimation of cost for certification
• Signing contract with certifier
• Preparation of detailed description of the project
• Onsite inspections and interviews done by the certifier
• Documentation check
• Evaluation of project
• Certification
• Taking corrective actions if needed
• Annual inspection and update of the certificate

Certification Agencies Currently Operating in Sri Lanka

• Control Union
• NASAA, Australia
• Institute for Market Ecology, Switzerland
• Naturland, Germany
• EcoCert, Germany
• Demeter and BioSuisse, Switzerland
• Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd, United Kingdom

Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement - 1994

This organization consists of scientists, organic farmers professionals, members of the organic corporates. This Organization plays a major role in policy development, preparation of guidelines and development of standards for organic agriculture in Sri Lanka.

More Info

References

• https://mesaprogram.org/2012/05/31/sri-lanka-lanka-organic-agriculture-movement-loam-11309/
• http://www.srilankabusiness.com/organic/organic-certification-in-sri-lanka.html
• http://slab.lk/
• https://www.ifoam.bio/

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Ekaweriya Rauvolfia serpentina

Family: Apocynaceae

Properties:
                  - Anthelmintic
                  - Anti-hypertensive
                  - Sedative
                  - Anti-epileptic

Medicinal Preparations:
                                      - "Sarpagandha ghanavati"
                                      - "Sarpagandha yoga"
                                      - "Sarpagandha churna"
                                      - Mahesvari vati

                                      - Juice of leaves can be applied to the eyes s a remedy for corneal opacity

                                      - In serpent bites - application of root powder on site of bite 

                                      - In hypertension, the paste of its roots mixed with rose water with rock                                                   candy ameliorates

                                      - The decoction of root is used to increase uterine contraction

Gammalu Pterocarpus marsupium

Family: Fabaceae

Properties:
                  - Astringent
                  - Anti-diabetic

Medicinal preparations:

                                    - A poultice prepared from the bark and leaves of the tree is useful in skin                                               diseases
                                    - The inner wood of tree is boiled in Taila/ sesame oil and applied on the scalp                                        or premature hair greying
                                    - The extract of the bark is used as an astringent for gum and is also useful in                                           diarrohea

Neera Mulliya Hygrophilia spinosa

Family: Acanthaceae

Properties:
                  - Demulcent
                  - Aphrodisiac
                  - Diuretic
                  - Urinary tonic

Medicinal preparations:
                                       The aerial parts and the roots are used in treating,
                                                      - Rheumatism
                                                      - Jaundice
                                                      - Inflammation
                                                      - Pain
                                                      - Hepatic obstruction
                                                      - Gout
                                                      - Bacterial infection
                                                   

Pethithora Cassia tora

Family: Fabaceae

Properties: Anti-haemorroidal

Medicinal preparations:

                         - Its paste is used for treating skin ailments.
                         - The alcoholic or vinegar maceration of pounded fresh leaves is used externally to                                treat eczma and dermatomycosis.
                         - Decoction of the fruit of Cassia tora is used in the treatment of fever.
                         - Its powder is useful in combating indigestion, oning up heart muscles and purifying                              blood.

Dapog Nursery

Introduction

Dapog nursery; 

• is first originated in Philippines
• is now common in South and South East Asia
• is really easy to establish as it can be located anywhere on a flat surface
• require small nursery area
• is the fastest method to raise paddy seedlings
• takes 12 - 15 days to transplanting 
• requires carefully controlled irrigation