Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in India: Harnessing Opportunities …
139
medicines
25 for sustenance and healthcare needs.
26 As per the WHO estimate, 21,
000 plants are reported with medicinal usage around the world (WHO 2002; Shukla
and Gardner 2006). According to the estimates, medicinal plant sector provides over
one million employment opportunities for local communities like traditional healers,
Vaidyas
27 etc. particularly in rural India (ibid). Besides, as 90% of the collection of
medicinal plants is from wild, generates about 40 million man-days employment
(both part-time and fulltime) (Planning Commission 2000). The fact that medicinal
plants are in great demand for allopathic and herbal medicine industries as well as
for phyto-medicine (Lewington 1993).
2 Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Economic Viability
in India
Numerous studies have documented on the cultivation, conservation and constraints
faced in harnessing medicinal plants in India. But only few studies have in fact shows
the successful cases of medicinal plants cultivation and economic viability for India
farmers. Less than 20 medicinal plant species out of more than 400 major plant
species are used for the production of medicine by the Indian herbal industry (CUTS
2004). In India unfortunately, only 36 species are under commercial cultivation (Ved
and Goraya 2008 in Majeed 2015).
One such study is by Biswas (2010) which reveals that cultivation of Aloevera and
Drumstick vegetable has proven economically attractive for two farmers in Maharastra. Similarly, the studies by Nautiyal (1996), Silori and Badola (2000) and Belt et al.
(2003) reveals that the Bhotiya community from western Himalayas region is richly
endowed with culture and medicinal plant biodiversity particularly in the region of
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) cultivation of medicinal plants generated
high economic returns as well as contributed substantially for the conservation and
preserve the traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge among the local people. Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in Mandakini Valley and Roopkund Valley
(Uttaranchal
28 Himalayan
29 region) could generate immense economic opportunities for the local people instead of relying on the secondary sources such as animal
husbandry and agriculture practices for few months (Nautiyal et al. 2005). Similarly,
25 In India, there are over 8000 licensed Ayurveda pharmacies out of which 30% are located in the
state of Uttarpradesh alone (Subrat 2002).
26 Refer UNDP’s work on ‘Conserving Medicinal Plants, Sustaining Livelihoods’ Accessed from
(http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/successstories/
conserving-medicinal-plants-sustaining-livelihoods.html).
27 For medicinal purpose oral traditions of villagers use about 5000 plants and 8000 species by
tribal’s and traditional healers (Planning Commission 2000).
28 In Uttaranchal alone about 701 species are used as medicines (Dhar et al. 2000).
29 Bhotia, Rajees, Tharus and Boxas are the tribal community live in the state of Uttaranchal (Dhar
et al. 2000).
139
medicines
25 for sustenance and healthcare needs.
26 As per the WHO estimate, 21,
000 plants are reported with medicinal usage around the world (WHO 2002; Shukla
and Gardner 2006). According to the estimates, medicinal plant sector provides over
one million employment opportunities for local communities like traditional healers,
Vaidyas
27 etc. particularly in rural India (ibid). Besides, as 90% of the collection of
medicinal plants is from wild, generates about 40 million man-days employment
(both part-time and fulltime) (Planning Commission 2000). The fact that medicinal
plants are in great demand for allopathic and herbal medicine industries as well as
for phyto-medicine (Lewington 1993).
2 Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Economic Viability
in India
Numerous studies have documented on the cultivation, conservation and constraints
faced in harnessing medicinal plants in India. But only few studies have in fact shows
the successful cases of medicinal plants cultivation and economic viability for India
farmers. Less than 20 medicinal plant species out of more than 400 major plant
species are used for the production of medicine by the Indian herbal industry (CUTS
2004). In India unfortunately, only 36 species are under commercial cultivation (Ved
and Goraya 2008 in Majeed 2015).
One such study is by Biswas (2010) which reveals that cultivation of Aloevera and
Drumstick vegetable has proven economically attractive for two farmers in Maharastra. Similarly, the studies by Nautiyal (1996), Silori and Badola (2000) and Belt et al.
(2003) reveals that the Bhotiya community from western Himalayas region is richly
endowed with culture and medicinal plant biodiversity particularly in the region of
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) cultivation of medicinal plants generated
high economic returns as well as contributed substantially for the conservation and
preserve the traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge among the local people. Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in Mandakini Valley and Roopkund Valley
(Uttaranchal
28 Himalayan
29 region) could generate immense economic opportunities for the local people instead of relying on the secondary sources such as animal
husbandry and agriculture practices for few months (Nautiyal et al. 2005). Similarly,
25 In India, there are over 8000 licensed Ayurveda pharmacies out of which 30% are located in the
state of Uttarpradesh alone (Subrat 2002).
26 Refer UNDP’s work on ‘Conserving Medicinal Plants, Sustaining Livelihoods’ Accessed from
(http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/successstories/
conserving-medicinal-plants-sustaining-livelihoods.html).
27 For medicinal purpose oral traditions of villagers use about 5000 plants and 8000 species by
tribal’s and traditional healers (Planning Commission 2000).
28 In Uttaranchal alone about 701 species are used as medicines (Dhar et al. 2000).
29 Bhotia, Rajees, Tharus and Boxas are the tribal community live in the state of Uttaranchal (Dhar
et al. 2000).