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Medicinal plant sector has acquired increasing significance globally in the recent
years not only in providing safe and sustainable health-care, but also in the vital
conservation of biodiversity. According to the WHO, 80 per cent of the world’s population
is dependent on health-care provided by medicinal plants; and since there is a growing
perception that natural products are safe as being non-narcotic, and free from side
effects, the demand for medicinal plants is increasing worldwide. In India also,
medicinal plants sector has traditionally occupied an important position in the
indigenous health care system and the Indian systems of medicines like Ayurveda,
Sidha and Unani are reputed worldwide. Moreover, India has a clear
advantage with respect to medicinal plants cultivation, as it is one of the world’s
top 12 mega diversity nations with regard to genetic resources of medicinal plants.
And also, varied climatic and soil conditions existing in one or other part of the
country make it possible to grow almost any type of medicinal plant.
Kerala, endowed with rich biodiversity, is possibly the only state in the country
where Ayurveda continues to be practiced in its purest form and the state
has virtually become synonymous with Ayurveda. Demand for medicinal plant
based raw drugs in the state is fast increasing in tune with the increase in domestic
consumption as well as export demand. However, at present 90 per cent of medicinal
plants used by the ayurvedic industry is from forest and only 10 per cent is by
way of cultivation. Due to destructive harvesting, availability of medicinal plants
in its natural home has depleted over the years leading to endangering and even
extinction of several species. This has left domestication of medicinal plants as
the only viable option to augment supply.
However, scope for commercial cultivation of medicinal plants as pure crop is very
much limited in Kerala owing to the smaller land holding size and high pressure
on land. But, medicinal plants fit well into a variety of cropping systems, ensuring
effective harnessing of solar energy and increasing returns from unit area to the
farmer. Homesteads in the state are ideal for cultivating medicinal plants. Many
of the medicinal plants come up well in shaded conditions and hence can be profitably
intercropped in coconut and rubber plantations. Medicinal trees can be included
as component in socio-forestry programmes and for reclaiming wastelands and uncultivable
lands. Adhatoda, chegazhinirkizhangu, chethikoduveli, chittaratha, iruveli, kacholam,
kasthurimajal, neela amari, thippali etc. are some of the medicinal plants
recommended for cultivation in Kerala.
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