The New Nation - Internet Edition

Niaz Ahmed Khan and A.Z.M. Manzoor Rashid

Part-II

Drawing the respondents' comments and responses, the following major problems and challenges concerning the practice of Baidya may be identified:

· The most widely used species in the preparation and practice of medicine are becoming increasingly rare and difficult to procure for such reasons as rapid destruction of the neighbouring natural forests (mainly prompted by organised illicit commercial logging), bureaucratic complications and harassment (e.g. by the Forest Department), and inaccessibility and difficulties in communication and transportation.

· There is no formal arrangement or institution to train and nurture this knowledge in the locality. The institutional mechanisms for dissemination or extension of the knowledge and practice are also absent.

· The time of collection and harvesting of medicinal plants is a vital factor in ensuring efficacy of the medicines prepared thereof. The time factor is often ignored or by-passed by the Baidyas due to acute shortage and great demand of these plants.

· Competition Local people nowadays prefer 'modern' mainstream medication. The reduced number of patients, coupled with the difficulty in obtaining raw materials, makes the practice of Baidya almost unsustainable.

· The young generation does not show much interest in learning the traditional practice. They feel that Baidya as a profession is not promising for the above reasons.

· Majority of the existing Baidyas buy the raw material (spices, plants, stamp, seeds, roots etc.) of their practice from the local markets. Many respondents reported that these materials are generally of low quality and poor stock.

· The Baidyas, who want to ensure a sustained source of quality seed and seedling, badly feel the absence of a central propagation nursery.

· Institutional and external support and patronisation, especially from the government, for the development and promotion of indigenous medicinal plants and knowledge are nearly absent in the study areas.

Drawing on the respondents' comments and our observation during the fieldwork, the following ideas and clues on possible improvement may be considered:

· With the active participation of the local people, the existing medicinal plants should be systematically documented and recorded.

· Organised motivational and awareness raising campaign regarding medicinal plants and their benefits (e.g. free from negative side effects, low cost) may be carried out at the community level, especially amongst the younger population, by involving the community leaders and local community based organisations (e.g. schools and religious institutions) and NGOs.

· Experimental propagation nurseries may be established under government and non-government initiatives to ensure sustained supply of seedlings.

· The mainstream research institutions in the country, especially the forest and agricultural research institutes and universities may be encouraged to provide the much-needed research support for proper documentation and dissemination of the knowledge on medicinal plants and associated folk and herbal treatment methods.

· The local press, media and folk cultural practices (e.g. folk theatres) may be utilised as community-based extension and dissemination media to highlight the importance of conserving this traditional practice and heritage.

· Local base and community relations-two of the major benefits of some of the local NGOs and community based organisations may also be exploited for initiating a network or platform to bring the Baidyas together.

The age-old indigenous practice of Baidya is currently threatened by a host of problems including limited availability of the required plants and herbs; rapid destruction of natural forests; lack of formal arrangement or institution to train and nurture this knowledge; lack of organised propagation nurseries; inadequate Institutional and external support and patronisation (especially from the government); low quality and poor stock of raw materials in the open market; and unwillingness among the youngsters to learn and adopt the practice. Despite the rather dismal present state of affairs, this deeply rooted social practice, which has significant value as a community service, still holds great potential, remains too important to be ignored, and therefore, deserves the attention and support of all concerned.

[ Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan is Professor of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Development Studies, University of Wales, UK. Contact: niaz.khan@yahoo.com; and A.Z.M.Manzoor Rashid is Assistant Professor of Forestry and Environmental Science at the Shahjalal University of Science &Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh.]