The less-nurtured plantations with medicinal value will now get a fillip as the Goa Forest Development Corporation is venturing into a major project - conservation and commercial in nature - of medicinal plantations in the State. According to data procured by this paper, the project seeks to protect rare and endangered species of medicinal plants and thereafter explore commercial markets for tapping its produce. The General Manager of the GFDC Dr F L Coelho told Herald that a project report would be submitted to the Union Ministry shortly for Central funding for a period of three years. Estimated to cost Rs 86 lakh over a period of three years, around 50 per cent is to be borne by the forest corporation. Officials say that the corporation will utilise space within the 8990 hectares of land presently under cashew cultivation for the medicinal plantation project. Dr Coelho said, "We expect to harvest the first produce within a period of three years,' adding that the corporation has identified medicinal companies who would be willing to have the harvest. The maximum yield is expected within a decade. Some of the popular species proposed to be nurtured include Emblica officinalis (amla), Garcinia indica (kokum), Moringa oleifera (drumsticks), Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Icacinaceai) and many more. Herald understands that the corporation has identified around 22 species to strike roots for the project but will initially begin with four species at the initial stage. Dr Coelho said that the medicinal plantations will facilitate medicinal companies engaged in the manufacture and marketing of ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines and also give a boost to the forest corporation.