Market Economy of Medicinal Plants in Kerala

1. Market Economy of Medicinal Plants in Kerala

2. Table 1. Important medicinal plants demanded by user industry in Kerala (in quantity terms)

3. Table.3. Major medicinal plants (in value terms) procured by sample pharmacies in 2000-2001. ( Rs./kg)

4. Table 2. Market analysis of major Medicinal plants in Kerala.

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 GSCS Commission Agents Ayurvedic Drug manufacturing unit, Vaidyas, House hold preparations MARKETING CHANNELS FOR MEDICINAL PLANTS IN KERALA Traders/commission agents

9. MARKETING MARGINS:

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