Development of organic cultivation of medicinal plants in the North India
Abstract
Out of 750,000 known plants in the world, a major part are medicinal and aromatic plants
– a source of raw material for folk and documented systems of medicines worldwide. The
folk and documented medicine in India use about 6,000 plants, although, less than 50 species
have been scientifically studied and cultivated to any sizeable extent. The main factor
behind the slow pace of domestication of medicinal plants is the absence of knowledge
on cultivation practices and lack of suitable technology. About 90% of the medicinal plants
for trade are harvested from the wild and the demand for traditional medicinal plants is
increasing rapidly. Continuous exploitation of several medicinal plant species from the
wild has resulted in their population decline. Hence, an effective strategy is needed for
their sustainable utilization and conservation. Cultivation is the most effective way of conservation.
Cultivation can also ensure production of standardized raw materials. Thereby,
enhances the quality of the manufactured products. The methods and techniques of modern
chemical agriculture cannot be adopted for the cultivation of medicinal plants as they
should be free from harmful residues. Pesticides and other harmful chemicals have been
detected in some herbal products. Hence, to ensure a safe, residue-free and reliable material
for use in herbal drug industry, there is an urgent need to adopt strategies for cultivation
of medicinal plants that are consistent with principles of good agricultural practices.