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)
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
3
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. 1. Aconytum heterophylum Athividayam 2000 3800 Roots 0.76
2. 2. Lodolcea seychellarum Aklari thenga 60 3500 Fruits 0.021
3. 3. Crocus sativus Kunkumappov 105 30000 Flowers 0.31
4. 4. Anacyclus pyretheum Akki karuka 100 1200 Leaves, Roots 0.012
5. 5. Holostemma ada-kodien Adapathiyan 17000 280 Roots 0.48
6. 6. Kaempfera galanga Kachoory 16000 235 Rhizome 0.38
7. 7. Piper longum Thippali 18000 200 Fruits 0.36
8. 8. Cinnamomum kamphora Pacha karpooram 17500 200 Camphor 0.35
9. 9. Commiphora mukul Gulgulu 22000 180 Resin 0.40
10. 10. Trichosanthus cucumerina Kattupadavalam 26000 115 Stem 0.30
4
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
5
Positive price elasticity of demand High CV
in price High level of scarcity in supply
6
MARKETING CHANNELS FOR MEDICINAL PLANTS IN
KERALA

• Traders/commission agents

7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
MARKETING MARGINS
Plant Gatheres share of consumers rupee9) Traders margin of sale price Sale price of trader Rs./kg
Orila 43.48 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
Amukkuram 87.00 7.00 60.00
Adalotakam 67.00 32.67 12.00

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