Trends in the marketing of some important medicinal plants in Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants and sustainable harvesting of minor forest products is important for the conservation of rare species and improvement of rural economies. An analysis of the trends in marketing of four medicinal plants was conducted in Uttarakhand, India from 2007 to 2010; two cultivated (Saussurea lappa and Picrorhiza kurrooa), and two off-farm harvested medicinal plants (Sapindus mukorossi and Cinnamomum tamala). Data on volumes harvested and marketed was obtained from the Herbal Research and Development Institute and the Herbal Pharmaceutical Development Unit. Despite the low volume produced from the two cultivated species (on average 4.19 MT/year) compared to over 600.00 MT/year for the two off-farm species, they were marketed at better prices as compared to the off-farm harvested species: about 3.0 US$/kg as opposed to almost 0.50 $/kg. The total annual value of the cultivated species was almost 11.000 $/year and 290.000 US$ for the off-farm harvested species (based on sustainable use levels).In general, harvesting rates of all selected species increased in the years studied. The cultivated Saussurea lappa and Picrorhiza kurrooa are among the rare but globally significant medicinal plants, therefore, cultivation of these herbs is important for their conservation. Considerable quantities of Sapindus mukorossi and Cinnamomum tamala are marketed and these species seems to be pivotal for improvement of the rural economy.Little information is available on the policies for documentation of cultivation, sustainable harvesting, and trends in the marketing of medicinal plants from Indian Himalayan region (IHR). This communication is therefore important to understand the trends in the use of the selected species in the Uttarakhand, IHR.