Hidden Gems of India!!!

India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity and tradition. The rich biodiversity of 15 agro-climatic zones provides 17000-18000 species Of flowering plants in that 7000 are estimated to be have medicinal usage.

Medicinal plants not only the major resource base of traditional medicines and industry but also provide livelihood for large portion of indian population.Now a days the demand of medicinal plants are increased in the foreign trade. The export demand of medicinal plants has been estimated 1,34,500 MT during 2014-15.The major increase in the export value which has increased from rupees 345.80 crores in 2004-05 to rupees 3211 crores in 2014-15,indicating a nine fold increase in during last decades.

The details about export earnings from 2015-2018 provided by National Medicinal Plants Board given below,

The export of herbs and value added extracts of medicinal herbs are gradually increasing over the years. India exported USD 330.18 million worth plants and extracts during 2017-18 with a growth rate of 14.22% over the previous year. Also the export of value added products and extracts during 2017-18 at USD 456.12 Million recording a growth rate of 12.33% over previous year. The most demand of medicinal plants in the European and other developed countries.

In order to promote India's export govt. Taken certain measures such as

Export promotion councils
Under market Access Initiatives
Merchandise Export From India schem
Niryat Bandu scheme
Voluntary Certification scheme for medicinal plants produce
Ayush mark, Premium mark - quality certification
But the major constraints faced by India's exports are

Inadequate agricultural practices.       
Inadequate quality control procedures.
Lack of large scale organic cultivation.
Lack of processing and R&D.                 
Lack of standardisation in products,        processes and services.
Lack of regulatory framework in trade of medicinal plants.

By overcoming this constraints India can dethrone China who is the largest exporter of medicinal plants in the world. Through India can bagg the largest share of total herbal & medicinal plants trade (120 billion).

Data & statistics reffered from National medicinal plants Board and ministry of commerce and industry of India.