Market Economy of Medicinal Plants in Kerala

Market Economy of Medicinal Plants in Kerala

Table 1. Important medicinal plants demanded by user industry in Kerala (in quantity terms) Scientific Name Common 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 2000 -2001. ( Rs. /kg) Sl. No Scientific Name Common Name in Malayalam Quantity purchased (kg) Price/kg Parts used Value in million Rs. 1. Aconytum heterophylum Athividayam 2000 3800 Roots 0. 76 2. Lodolcea seychellarum Aklari thenga 60 3500 Fruits 0. 021 3. Crocus sativus Kunkumappov 105 30000 Flowers 0. 31 4. Anacyclus pyretheum Akki karuka 100 1200 Leaves, Roots 0. 012 5. Holostemma ada-kodien Adapathiyan 17000 280 Roots 0. 48 6. Kaempfera galanga Kachoory 16000 235 Rhizome 0. 38 7. Piper longum Thippali 18000 200 Fruits 0. 36 8. Cinnamomum kamphora Pacha karpooram 17500 200 Camphor 0. 35 9. Commiphora mukul Gulgulu 22000 180 Resin 0. 40 10. Trichosanthus cucumerina Kattupadavalam 26000 115 Stem 0. 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 spp Kurunthotty 608 9. 20 29. 87 0. 54 2. 79 Tinospora cordifolia Chittamruth 282 5. 70 20. 76 0. 35 0. 00 Terminalia chibula Kadukka 164 6. 80 29. 89 3. 31 -3. 20 Withania somnifera Amukkuram 149 6. 30 12. 93 0. 60 -4. 02 Adhatoda sp Adalotakam 141 5. 30 29. 33 1. 46 -1. 60 Cedrus deodara Devatharam 138 8. 80 27. 00 1. 98 -3. 80 Cyperus rotundus Muthanga 131 9. 12 13. 48 2. 23 -0. 59 Woodfordia fruiticosa Thathiri 123 8. 47 22. 15 0. 42 -5. 16 Boerhavia diffusa Thazhuthama 100 4. 19 8. 62 0. 33 6. 82 Aegle marmelos Koovalam 87 9. 31 28. 15 0. 98 0. 49

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

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

MARKETING MARGINS: Plant Gathere`s share of consumer`s rupee 9%) Orila 43. 48 Trader`s margin Sale % of sale price of trader Rs. /kg 47. 83 23. 00 Sida 67. 00 32. 89 18. 00 chittamruth 67. 00 32. 00 6. 00 sathavary 90. 00 8. 95 55. 00 Nellikka 83. 00 18. 33 24. 00 Koovalam 60. 00 39. 20 10. 00 7. 00 60. 00 Amukkuram 87. 00

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.

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