In a novel initiative, Botany Department of Vivekananda College has been maintaining an exclusive herbal garden on half acre on their college premises for the last two years.
N. Lakshmanan, Head of Department, said that they had been growing about 60 species of medicinal plants. Four students from the college who showcased some of the products in a stall at ‘Sorpotifest ‘15’ said that both the students and faculty were involved in maintaining the garden. “We have grown Nilavembu which can be used to make ‘kashayam’ used to fight dengue, herbal oil made of neem and aloe vera and natural fertilizers which we make from ingredients grown in the garden,” said R. Karnan, a student.
C. Pandiamurugan , another student, said that they had also raised and distributed ‘nocchi’ plants, which would help keep mosquitoes away.
“We are already distributing seedlings to people who come and see out herbal garden. This is our maiden attempt to sell products which we grow and make from our herbal garden,” Vigneswaran and Rajesh , two third-year students, said.
