Market Economy of Medicinal Plants in Kerala

Table 1. Important medicinal plants demanded by user industry in Kerala (in quantity terms ) Scientific NameCommon Name in Malayalam 1.Sida spp. Kurunthotty 2.Phyllanthus emblica Nellikka 3.Tinospora cordifolia Chittamruth 4.Terminalia chebula Kadukka 5.Asparagus recimosus Sathavary 6.Cyperus rotundus Muthanga 7.Solanum melongena Var.Insanum Cheruvazhuthina 8.Woodfordia fruiticosa Thathiri 9.Nilgirianthus ciliatus Karingurinji 10. Aegle marmelos Koovalan 11.Eclipta alba Kanjunni 12.Indigofera tinctoria Neelayamari 13.Adathoda Spp. Adalotakam 14.Withania somnifera Amukkuram 15.Cedrus deodera Devatharam 16.Boerhavia diffusa Thazhuthama 17.Aloe barbedensis Kattarvazha 18.Ricinus communis Avanakku 19.Tribulus terrestris Njerinjil 20.Piper longum Thippali

Table.3. Major medicinal plants (in value terms) procured by sample pharmacies in ( Rs./kg) Sl. N o Scientific Name Common Name in Malayalam Quantity purchased (kg) Price/kgParts usedValue in million Rs. 1.Aconytum heterophylumAthividayam Roots Lodolcea seychellarumAklari thenga603500Fruits Crocus sativusKunkumappov Flowers Anacyclus pyretheumAkki karuka Leaves, Roots Holostemma ada-kodienAdapathiyan Roots Kaempfera galangaKachoory Rhizome Piper longumThippali Fruits Cinnamomum kamphoraPacha karpooram Camphor Commiphora mukulGulgulu Resin Trichosanthus cucumerinaKattupadavalam Stem0.30

Table 2. Market analysis of major Medicinal plants in Kerala. Name of the plant Common Name in malayalam Quantity Demanded (estimate) Tonnes Compound growth rate (%) Coefficient of variation (%) Price elasticity of demand (%) Scarcity ratio Sida sppKurunthotty Tinospora cordifoliaChittamruth Terminalia chibulaKadukka Withania somniferaAmukkuram Adhatoda spAdalotakam Cedrus deodaraDevatharam Cyperus rotundusMuthanga Woodfordia fruiticosaThathiri Boerhavia diffusaThazhuthama Aegle marmelosKoovalam

*Positive price elasticity of demand *High CV in price *High level of scarcity in supply

Illegal collectors from forest Gatherers from Non- forest Areas Dealers outside state Cultivators Tribals Commission Agents Ayurvedic Drug manufacturing unit, Vaidyas, House hold preparations GSCS MARKETING CHANNELS FOR MEDICINAL PLANTS IN KERALA Traders/commission agents

MARKETING MARGINS: PlantGathere`s share of consumer`s rupee9%) Trader`s margin % of sale price Sale price of trader Rs./kg Orila Sida chittamruth sathavary Nellikka Koovalam Amukkuram Adalotakam

Recommendations: Promotion of medicinal plant cultivation based on market demand. Quality specifications for ayurvedic drugs to be set and enforced. Make it mandatory to declare the source of purchase of medicinal plants by all operators in this sector. Standardization of morphological/ biochemical methods to identify the medicinal plants. Analyze the effect of cultivated species on drug quality. Legalization of contract production protecting the interests of primary producers.

Thank you