KATHMANDU: A two-day regional meet on development of medicinal and aromatic plants began in Kathmandu today.

The programme is focused on strategic research, networking and collaboration to comprehensively address critical research issues related to the sustainable and equitable use of medicinal and aromatic plants in South Asia and Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

Addressing the programme, Andreas Schield of International Centre for Integrated Development of Mountain(ICIMOD) said, “The medicinal and

aromatic plants in the HKH region have a high value and the local peoples’ benefit should be taken into consideration.”

“We have a great potential to make money out of the plants but have not been able to tap it. We will try our best to bring benefits to the local people from the resources in their periphery,” said Yubaraj Bhusal, secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation.

Most of the medicinal plants are exported to India and their refined products are imported back spending a huge amount of money. We should check this trend, he added. More than 25 participants from Bhutan, India, Pakistan, China and Nepal are participating the programme organised by ICIMOD.