Shimla, March 24 — The widening gap between demand and supply of medicinal plants is a growing concern in Himachal Pradesh.
Stakeholders flagged the issue during a consultation workshop organized by the Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla here today.
Experts said the market is buyer-driven, forcing cultivators to sell produce at throwaway prices.
Dr. Vineet Jishtu, Scientist-E and Training Coordinator at HFRI, stressed the need for proper record-keeping of cultivation and harvesting cycles to help farmers get organic certification and better market rates.
Dr Jishtu also suggested that farmers form groups to build a seller-driven market where they could fix the price rather than depend on buyers.
He pointed out that the biggest challenge is the lack of storage, leading to loss of medicinal quality due to fungal attacks.
Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Director of HFRI, warned that extracting medicinal plants from forests before maturity is destroying their quality and medicinal properties.
"Harvesting should be done only after the Bhado month when plants have the best medicinal value," he said, adding that unethical harvesting is leading to adulteration, causing people to lose faith in Ayurvedic medicines.
Dr. Lal Singh, Director of the Himalayan Research Group, explained that Chirayta cultivation can earn Rs. 30,000 to 35,000 in just 18 months, while Kadu cultivation can fetch Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1 lakh annually after 3-4 years.
These crops require no fertilizers and remain safe from wild animals like monkeys.
Lal Singh stressed that whatever is cultivated should ensure livelihood, and all expenses from production to market should be calculated.
Proper harvesting time and scientific storage are essential to retain medicinal properties and fetch better prices.
Medicinal plant trader Kailash Sharma demanded that traders be trained in proper storage so that quality material is supplied when demand arises.
"When demand comes, due to lack of storage, suppliers dump anything they have, compromising on quality," he added.
Experts from JICA also shared various government schemes under their project for stakeholder support. All participants raised their queries, which were addressed by experts in detail.
Over 35 stakeholders from across Himachal Pradesh attended the consultation workshop aimed at improving the quality of medicinal plants and reviving trust in Ayurvedic medicines.
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