Lucknow: President A P J Abdul Kalam on August 11 stressed the need for proper marketing of bio- products through integrated efforts for economic prosperity.

Speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in Lucknow, Kalam said bio-diversity was the country's greatest asset and if bio-products were properly marketed, economic prosperity could be achieved.

Kalam said in his one-year tenure as President, he had visited as many as 25 states and three union territories and was amazed at the kind of bio wealth across the length and breadth of the country.

Lauding the contribution of CIMAP in the field of Menthol production, the President suggested that the institute should not only strive to become a centre of excellence, but also ensure that the products were properly marketed both within and outside the country.

Kalam said the farmers could also earn money by producing herbal products in between the two crops.

Pointing out that there was a herbal garden at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with 29 herbal plants, Kalam said many children, after seeing the garden, had expressed the desire to study bio-technology.

PTI