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Coimbatore: The state government is encouraging cultivation of medicinal plants by motivating farmers, traders and entrepreneurs, CEO of Tamil Nadu State Medicinal Plants Board S Ganesh said here on Friday.
Medicinal plants are cultivated on 12,000 to 25,000 acres in the state, Ganesh, who attended a two-day workshop on ‘Entrepreneurial Scope in Medicinal Plants Cultivation and Extraction’ organised on Anna University regional campus said. “We are in the process of increasing the extent of cultivation by motivating farmers through agencies including the horticulture department. Demand for medicinal plants has increased after the Covid-19 pandemic as ayurvedic products to increase immunity gained popularity around the world,” he said.
“The plants are cultivated in Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Dindigul, Karur, Namakkal, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli. Not much cultivation is taking place in Coimbatore region. Farmers can take up medicinal plant cultivation in dry and arid lands. The returns are handsome while not much of investment is required,” Ganesh said. The international market for medicinal plant is estimated to be at 10 lakh crore a year, the official said. “While China alone accounts for 1 lakh crore, India accounts for only 10,000 crore. India in general and Tamil Nadu in particular has more favorable weather conditions than China for cultivation of medicinal plants.”
“There is a huge demand for ashwagandha in the international market as it helps to cure several health problems. Plants such as senna, coleus, nithya kalyani, tulsi and aloevera also have takers. Farmers can also consider vetiver and lemon grass,” he said.
Farmers can set up units to extract oil from the medicinal plants to sell at premium prices. The state government is ready to help them with bank loans and setting up units in Sidco industrial estates.
More than 100 farmers, traders and entrepreneurs attended the event. Deputy chief executive officer of national medicinal plant board Chandra Shekhar Sanwal and principal scientist of Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture in Dindigul P Manivel were present.
Medicinal plants are cultivated on 12,000 to 25,000 acres in the state, Ganesh, who attended a two-day workshop on ‘Entrepreneurial Scope in Medicinal Plants Cultivation and Extraction’ organised on Anna University regional campus said. “We are in the process of increasing the extent of cultivation by motivating farmers through agencies including the horticulture department. Demand for medicinal plants has increased after the Covid-19 pandemic as ayurvedic products to increase immunity gained popularity around the world,” he said.
“The plants are cultivated in Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Dindigul, Karur, Namakkal, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli. Not much cultivation is taking place in Coimbatore region. Farmers can take up medicinal plant cultivation in dry and arid lands. The returns are handsome while not much of investment is required,” Ganesh said. The international market for medicinal plant is estimated to be at 10 lakh crore a year, the official said. “While China alone accounts for 1 lakh crore, India accounts for only 10,000 crore. India in general and Tamil Nadu in particular has more favorable weather conditions than China for cultivation of medicinal plants.”
“There is a huge demand for ashwagandha in the international market as it helps to cure several health problems. Plants such as senna, coleus, nithya kalyani, tulsi and aloevera also have takers. Farmers can also consider vetiver and lemon grass,” he said.
Farmers can set up units to extract oil from the medicinal plants to sell at premium prices. The state government is ready to help them with bank loans and setting up units in Sidco industrial estates.
More than 100 farmers, traders and entrepreneurs attended the event. Deputy chief executive officer of national medicinal plant board Chandra Shekhar Sanwal and principal scientist of Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture in Dindigul P Manivel were present.
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