1. Market Economy of Medicinal Plants in Kerala

2. 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

3. Table.3. Major medicinal plants (in value terms) procured by sample pharmacies in 2000-2001. ( Rs./kg) Sl. N o Scientific Name Common Name in Malayalam Quantity purchased (kg) Price/kgParts usedValue in million Rs. 1.Aconytum heterophylumAthividayam20003800Roots0.76 2.Lodolcea seychellarumAklari thenga603500Fruits0.021 3.Crocus sativusKunkumappov10530000Flowers0.31 4.Anacyclus pyretheumAkki karuka1001200Leaves, Roots 0.012 5.Holostemma ada-kodienAdapathiyan17000280Roots0.48 6.Kaempfera galangaKachoory16000235Rhizome0.38 7.Piper longumThippali18000200Fruits0.36 8.Cinnamomum kamphoraPacha karpooram17500200Camphor0.35 9.Commiphora mukulGulgulu22000180Resin0.40 10.Trichosanthus cucumerinaKattupadavalam26000115Stem0.30

4. 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 sppKurunthotty6089.2029.870.542.79 Tinospora cordifoliaChittamruth2825.7020.760.350.00 Terminalia chibulaKadukka1646.8029.893.31-3.20 Withania somniferaAmukkuram1496.3012.930.60-4.02 Adhatoda spAdalotakam1415.3029.331.46-1.60 Cedrus deodaraDevatharam1388.8027.001.98-3.80 Cyperus rotundusMuthanga1319.1213.482.23-0.59 Woodfordia fruiticosaThathiri1238.4722.150.42-5.16 Boerhavia diffusaThazhuthama1004.198.620.336.82 Aegle marmelosKoovalam879.3128.150.980.49

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

6. 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

9. MARKETING MARGINS: PlantGathere`s share of consumer`s rupee9%) Trader`s margin % of sale price Sale price of trader Rs./kg Orila43.4847.8323.00 Sida67.0032.8918.00 chittamruth67.0032.006.00 sathavary90.008.9555.00 Nellikka83.0018.3324.00 Koovalam60.0039.2010.00 Amukkuram87.007.0060.00 Adalotakam67.0032.6712.00

10. 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.

11. Thank you