Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Oct 31, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Oct 31, 2002 |
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Industry & Economy
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Alternative Medicines Plan to grow herbal plants in wastelands Our Bureau
KOCHI, Oct. 30 THE Union Ministry of Rural Development has proposed to utilise the country's vast area of waste land extending to 1.75 million hectares for cultivation of herbal plants so as to tap the burgeoning global herbal market, according to Mr Annasaheb M.K. Patil, Union Minister of State for Rural Development. Though 50-60 per cent of herbal plants are cultivated in the country, India has got only a very nominal share in the global herbal market. China, which had only 15 per cent availability of herbal plants, is now dominating the world export market, he added. The objective of the Government is to promote herbal cultivation in a big way and to make India a leading player in the world herbal market, now being dominated by China, he said adding that this would also generate employment opportunities to more than 20 million people. The Minister was here in connection with the inauguration of the World Ayurveda Expo and Herbal Trade Fair 2002 on Wednesday as part of the 4-day World Ayurveda Conference to be held from November 1. He also called upon the ayurvedic drug manufacturers to take up herbal cultivation so as to enhance the country's share in the world export market. Kerala could also play a prominent role in the cultivation of herbal plants. There was a need to promote ayurvedic system of medicine and new experiments by scientists revealed that various incurable diseases could be treated successfully with this indigenous system, he added. Mr O. Rajagopal, Union Minister of State for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, suggested that paddy farmers, tea and coffee planters in Kerala should be given an opportunity for herbal cultivation in their respective fields/estates as the availability of waste land was limited in the State. He pointed out that most of the farmers in the State were reeling under serious financial crisis due to unremunerative prices for their crops and, hence, the Government should come forward to provide subsidy and infrastructure facilities for taking up cultivation of herbal plants in a big way. Recognising the importance of ayurveda, Mr Rajagopal said, the Union Government had given due importance to this ancient system of medicine and it reflected in the National Health Policy giving prominence to ayurveda with that of allopathic medicines. The Government had also decided to promote research activities in ayurveda as the world was moving towards alternate system of medicine, he said. Kerala could contribute a major share in the development of ayurveda, the Minister said and had also suggested formation of separate university, an independent ministry and an ayurveda park in the State to focus study on traditional medicines. HUDCO would be ready to extend financial assistance in setting up the park for providing exclusive treatment to patients from the country and outside.
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