Back to news
25 May 2017 | Himalica

High-level Bangladeshi Delegates visit Dabur Nepal’s Ashok Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Centre in Banepa

Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura, Secretary at the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MoCHTA), Bangladesh, and Board Member of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), recently visited Dabur Nepal’s Ashok Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Centre in Banepa, Kavre district, with his delegation comprising six members.

The main objective of the delegation’s visit was to explore the possibility of strengthening collaboration between ICIMOD, MoCHTA, and Dabur in the production of medicinal and aromatic plants, and honey, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

2 mins Read

70% Complete
Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Affairs of Bangladesh Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura with members of the Bangladesh delegation, ICIMOD staff, and the staff of Dabur Nepal's Ashok Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Centre

The Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh hold great promise for the production and commercialization of non-timber forest products such as medicinal and aromatic plants, and honey. Dabur, on the other hand, has expertise in the development and marketing of a range of products. ICIMOD, in its role as a knowledge broker between the two parties, coordinated the visit.

This visit has to been seen in the context of ICIMOD’s renewed emphasis on fostering public private partnership for the development of inclusive and pro-poor value chains of high-value ‘niche’ mountain products and services. ICIMOD’s Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya (Himalica) project, for instance, has been strengthening micro entrepreneurs or new startups to better position themselves along local, national, and regional value chains, as this has the potential to enhance not only the livelihoods and incomes of poor and vulnerable mountain communities, but also market access for their products and services. In Bandarban District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Himalica initiative is developing a climate resilient tourism value chain, with linkages with other products such as honey.

2
1. Pankaj Raturi, Head of Dabur Nepal’s Ashok Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Centre, briefing the Secretary and the visiting team about Dabur’s work on honey 2. Raturi briefing the Secretary and the visiting team about Dabur’s work on medicinal and aromatic herbs

Pankaj Raturi, Head of the Ashok Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Centre and his team, received the high-level Bangladeshi delegates with a welcome khada and bouquets of flowers. Raturi showed the delegates Dabur Nepal’s collections of medicinal and aromatic plants and honey products. This was followed by a tour to the medicinal plants nursery cultivated in high-tech green houses. After this, Raturi made a brief presentation of Dabur Nepal’s work and how it is helping farmers in remote mountain areas of the country.

In his remarks, Tripura expressed his sincere thanks to Dabur for the visit. He said he was very happy to visit and see the wonderful work Dabur has been doing to support farmers and the commercialization of products derived from medicinal and aromatic plants. He also mentioned that he is very fond of Dabur and that he uses Dabur products at home. Tripura gave an introduction of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, emphasizing the potential of honey and medicinal plants in this hilly area of Bangladesh. He assured all of support from MoCHTA in establishing a value addition and marketing facility for honey and medicinal plants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, jointly with local partner(s). He invited the Dabur team to Bangladesh to assess the potential for honey and medicinal plants in districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to establish a facility for processing and developing products jointly with local partner(s).

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related content

Continue exploring this topic

12 May 2017 HICAP
ICIMOD Knowledge Products Launched at IPCC Event in Kathmandu, Nepal

Adaptation Solution Brief: Strengthening women’s roles as risk and resource managers at the frontline of climate change Launched by Nand Kishor ...

16 Apr 2015 News
Kiwi orchard established in Bhutan

Bhutan’s Agriculture and Forests Minister Lyonpo Yeshey Dorji inaugurated a kiwi fruit orchard (demonstration farm) in Wangkha on 15 March ...

6 Jul 2016 News
Partnership Brokering Training at ICIMOD

Practice-based learnings for effective partnership brokering develops robust, efficient and innovative partnerships. Offered as an open call ...

29 Feb 2016 News
AIRCA Annual Steering Committee Meeting in Costa Rica

Directors and representatives of all members Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture (AIRCA) gathered on ...

4 Oct 2016 Himalica
Pilot Project Empowers Nepali Women as Agents of Change

A two-day workshop on ‘Empowering Women as Agents of Change’  to contextualise gender inequality, to identify and strengthen the perceptions ...

23 Jul 2015 News
Expanding commercial banana production in Nepal

Using ecological niche modelling to guide farmers and the Government of Nepal.  Banana is a high-value agricultural product and ...

2 Jun 2016 News
Building Local Capacities for Managing Springsheds and Reviving Springs

Springs are the primary source of water for many communities living in mid-hills of Nepal.  Changes in social and economic ...

17 Mar 2017 Himalica
Brand HIMALICA – Green Products from the Mountains soft-launched at the Sixth Nepal International Trade Fair

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the Sixth Nepal International Trade Fair in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, Nepal, on 16 March ...