1. New initiatives in Medicinal Plants Sector Padmapriya Balakrisnan
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
National Medicinal Plants Board
Ministry of AYUSH

2. Global Demand of Medicinal Plants
As per the WHO the Global market value for herbal Industry is expected to reached US$ 5 trillion in The global market growth for the industry is expected to be 7% per annum from year 2000 to 2050.

3. STATUS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN INDIA
20 Agro-Ecological zones.
One of 17 mega biodiversity countries.
7 % of world biodiversity.
17000 flowering plant sps.
About 9000 spp. used in ISM & Folk medicines.
1172 species in trade of which 242 with consumption > 100 MT.
40% of species in high demand sourced through cultivation (coverage 0.3 million ha.)
Large network of institutions/Universities involved in medicinal plants R&D. 3

4. Cedrus deodara (Deodar)
Saussurea costus (Kuth)
Picrorhiza kurrooa (Kutki)
Rubia cordifolia (Manjishtha)
Aquilaria agallocha (Agar)
Morinda citrifolia (Noni)
Saraca asoca (Asoca)
Pterocarpus santalinus (Raktchandan)
Cinnamomum verum (Dalchini)
Santalum album (Chandan)
Rauwolfia serpentina (Sarpgandha)
Plantago ovata (Isabgol)
Commiphora wightii (Guggal)
Cassia angustifolia (Senna)
Aconitum heterophyllum (Atees)
Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea buck thorn)
Piper longum (Pippli)
Gloriosa superba (Kalihari)
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
India is repository of more than 7500 Medicinal Plants found in Himalayan to Marine and Desert to Rain Forest Ecosystems

5. Demand of Medicinal Plants from Health Sector
About 2500 Plant Species are used in all the Codified System of Medicine practices in India
192 Western
Ayurveda – 1587 species Siddha – 1128 species Unani – 503 species Sowa-Rigpa – 253 species
468 Homoeopathy
253 Sowa -Rigpa
1587 Ayurveda
503 Unani
Homoeopathic – 468 species
Western – 192 species
1128 Siddha

6. Demand of Raw Herbal Drugs: Growth Trends
Estimated Demand during : 2,34,675 MT (study carried out by CERPA) Estimated Demand during : 3,19,500 MT (study carried out by FRLHT) Estimated Demand during : 5,12,000 MT (study carried out by ICFRE)
6,00,000
5,12,000MT
5,00,000
4,00,000
3,19,500MT
3,00,000
2,34,675MT
2,00,000
1,00,000

7. Gross Volume of Foreign Trade of Botanical Raw Drugs
EXPORT
The trade volume of EXPORT of Botanical Raw Drugs has increased from about 56,015 MT in to 134,437 MT in
registering an average annual increase of about 11 %.
160000
140000
120000
Quantity (MT)
100000
80000
60000
IMPORT
The trade volume of IMPORT of Botanical Raw Drugs has increased from about 36,143 MT in to 64,545 MT in
registering an average annual increase of about 7 %.
40000
Export
20000
Import
Year

8. Supply of Medicinal Plants
242 plant species recorded in high annual trade
(excluding 57 species that are cultivated mainly for purposes other than medicinal use; 7 species that are cultivated for
aromatic oils; 4 species for which availability of plant sources could not be verified).
Imports
Forests species (Himalayan forests =36; Tropical Forests =78)
Wastelands - 59 species Cultivation - 54 species Imports - 15 species
Cultivation
Forests
Wastelands
Nearly 72% of the species in high demand continue to be sourced from the wild, with
only 22% sourced from cultivation.

9. Supply of Raw Herbal Drugs from Cultivation: Growth Trends
During : 20% raw herbs has been procured from cultivation sources
During : 40% of the total volume has been procured from the cultivated sources
During :
12 major medicinal plants species viz. Isabgol, Henna, Senna, Mentha, Tulasi, Ashwagandha, Aloe, Pippali and Pippal Mool, Bach, Artemisia, Vetiver and Kuth has been well cultivated across the country around 2,02,000ha land cover.
Cultivation of 30 mother species under the 5000 ha area has also been recorded. 50 40 30 20 10
40%
20%

10. Medicinal Plants Sourced from Cultivation Plantago ovata Isabgol Herb
Demand Figures in metric tons
Plantago ovata
Isabgol
Herb
>30000
Aloe vera
Kumari
>10000
Senna alexandrina
Sona patta
Withania somnifera
Ashwagandha
Piper longum
Pippali/ Mool
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Tulasi
Justicia adhatoda
Vasa
Shrub

11. Segmentation of Indian Herbal Markets
ASU& H Formulations
Proprietary / Ethical OTC
medicines
Herbal cosmetics
Herbal Teas / Functional Foods / Nutraceuticals
Extract / Phytochemicals / Resin
& Gums
Flavours and fragrances
Aromatic Oils / Aromatherapy
Culinary herbs and Spices
Veterinary Herbal Products
ASU& H
Formulations
Proprietary / Ethical OTC medicines
Herbal cosmetics
Extract / Phytochemical
/ Resin & Gums
Flavours and fragrances
MEDICINAL HERBS
Aromatic Oils
/Aroma
therapy
Herbal Teas / Functional Foods / Nutraceuticals
Veterinary Herbal Products
Culinary herbs and Spices

12. The National Medicinal Plants Board
Set up in November 2000 under the Chairpersonship of the Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare.
Apex level organisation, HQ in Delhi, headed by a CEO.
To coordinate all matters related to Medicinal Plants (MPs)

13. Key Issues & NMPB Mandate

14. NMPB Schemes
Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants now subsumed with National AYUSH Mission (NAM) Scheme as one of its component i.e., “Medicinal Plants”.

15. Approved 6 RCFC and 1 RCFC in NE region is under progress
Achievement under Central Sector Scheme (upto 31/01/2018) Budget outlay crores
Target for
Physical Target
Achievement till
Establishment of MPCDAs 13 5
In- situ / Ex-situ conservation, Resource Augmentation
5500 Ha. Ha
Support to JFMCS/ VFMC/ BMC 90 43
R&D projects. 25 19
Projects on capacity building, IEC, Nursery, QPM etc. 30 10
Herbal gardens and School / Home Herbal Garden 17 6
Setting-up of on Raw Drug Repository 9
(8 Regional + 1 National)
Under process
Support to establishment of Regional Centre and SMPBs 7
Approved 6 RCFC and 1 RCFC in NE region is under progress

16. Potential of India in Medicinal Plants Sector
Remunerative substitute for traditional crops being grown by progressive farmers
Provides tool for multi-storey forest development
Critically important for sustainable forest development
May turn out to be game changer for North Eastern States and states affected by Naxal movement
Become world Leader due to comparative advantage in climatic conditions, traditional knowledge and scientific capabilities
Sustainable livelihood for 100 million people - tribals through sustainable collection and primary processing
Good substitute for small farmers e.g. Tulsi & Makoy cultivation
Provides viable opportunity even in extreme climatic condition – Isabgol in Rajasthan, Senna in Tamilnadu, Atis and Kuth in high altitude area

17. Promotion of Cultivation of Medicinal Plants
NMPB promotes cultivation of Medicinal Plants under National AYUSH Mission(NAM).
There are 140 priority species enlisted for promotion of cultivation
Subsidy for cultivation along with backward and forward linkages like nursery, post harvest facility, etc.,
Cultivation is promoted by formation of clusters.
Because of the efforts of NMPB there are around 50 species under cultivation
. As per ICFRE report, the volume of raw material sourced from cultivation has increased upto 40%.

18. Supply Chain of Medicinal Plants

19. Trade in Medicinal Plants
Scattered source
Limited quantity
Diverse products, stakeholders
Not so organised
Traditional
SOPs, quality standards, policy framework – still evolving

20. Issues related to Marketing
Adequate marketing linkages e.g. Mandies, Market Place.
Unorganised Supply Chain of medicinal plants.
Lack of proper PHM facilities e.g. drying yards, storage, grading, etc. as per the requirements of industries / exports.
Lack of Semi-processing units for value addition.
Lack of
marketing intelligence e.g. assessment of
demand, supply base, pricing etc.

21. Short comings Too many species of Medicinal Plants
Preferance for wild collected source
Absence of market Place
Still medicinal plants are considered as minor forest produce
Absence of cultivation technology
It is still not a priority
Role of traders and unorganized sector
Quality and authenticity.
Availability of Quality Planting Material

22. New initiatives in Medicinal Plants Sector
Developed guidelines for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for cultivation of Medicinal Plants and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP) for wild collection of medicinal plants as per WHO guidelines.
Developed training module for GAP and GFCP and trained representatives from various parts of the country as master trainers so that GAP and GFCP can be adopted by all the stakeholders of medicinal plants( in collaboration with DMAPR).
Launched Voluntary Certification Scheme for GAP and GFCP so that there in availability quality raw material in collaboration with QC.
Developed agro techniques for 104 species and published it in 3 volumes.
Launched a web based mobile app called ‘e-charak’ an online platform for sale, purchase of Medicinal plants raw material and it also provide a platform for knowledge sharing and interaction amongst stakeholders.
Establishment of Regional cum facilitation centers of NMPB mandated to look into coordination amongst various stakeholders of medicinal plants at regional level and promotion of MPs.

23. Establishment of National and Regional Raw Drug Repositories.
Drafting of National Policy of Medicinal Plants
Organizing International, National and Regional Level conferences, workshops and seminars to create awareness about Medicinal Plants, disseminate agro technology, buyer-seller meets etc.
10.Signatory of MOU with Namami Gange and Island development authority hence on priority basic promote conservations and cultivation of MPs in these areas.
11. Developed mobile based app called Bhuvan e-herbs to bring in all the stakeholders, implementing agencies on one platform for effective implementation of various schemes of NMPB.
12. Newsletters

24. ISSUES Reduce destructive harvest of Medicinal Plants
Promote populations of critical species
Thrust on continued promotion of scientific studies for substitution and validation of other species/plant parts
Promote availability of Medicinal Plants to ensure efficacy of traditional health systems
Urgent need to reconcile various legal provisions at the grass root/implementation level
International Collaboration
Create a corpus fund for supporting appropriate initiatives

25. Future Course of Action
Develop Agro technology for remaining high in demand medicinal plants.
Cultivation to be linked up with QPM and assured market with minimum support price.
Quality standards and certification of MP produce for GAP and GFCP.
Setting up of MP procurement corporation and link it with manufacturing units.
Establishment of Germ-plasm collection units and variety development for high yielding varieties with high Active Ingredients.
Conservation, sustainable harvest of MPs and standard market price or MSP.

26. Training to all stakeholders.
Setting-up of FPCs for MP cultivation with primary processing / value addition.
Promote export of MPs through GAP, GFCP and GHP.
Establishment of assured supply chain for MPs.