18 April 2007
To promote effective harvesting of medicinal plants, which are integral to
the healthcare systems of humankind, the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture,
Conservation and Environment Khabisi Mosunkutu will officially launch a
medicinal plant incubator project. This medicinal plant incubator project is
expected to contribute to thee reversal of destruction of indigenous medicinal
plants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately 70 to
80% of the populations of developing countries rely on traditional
medicine.
It is further estimated that approximately 20 000 tons of medicinal plants
are used in South Africa by at least 27 million consumers each year. Work done
by the department shows that the wild population of plants from which these
products are harvested is under threat especially considering that an estimated
700 tons of plant products are traded annually in Gauteng.
The launch will take place as follows:
Date: Friday, 20 April 2007
Time: 09h00
Venue: Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Agricultural Research Council
(ARC) Roodeplaat, Pretoria
For more information, contact:
Sizwe Matshikiza
Tel: (011) 355 1316
Cell: 082 778 9996
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
18 April 2007
