Indian herbs are renowned all Ayurveda, the traditional Indian form of medicine,
has been using herbs for thousands of years.
Over the world for their medicinal properties. India is the Second Highest Producer of Medicinal Herbs in the world, after China.
Himalayas, Aravalis, and Nilgiri mountains are the greatest reserves of medicinal
herbs in India.
Let me first explain what are herbs?
Herbs are plants with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring
and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances; excluding
vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients. Herbs are the third most important panel of SHEFEXIL (Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council).
Accounting for 18% of the Council’s total export value. The panel deals primarily in Plants and Plant Portions, including leaves, barks, husks, flowers and pods, in fresh, dried, cut, crushed or powdered forms.
Herbs are also used in perfumery and cosmetics, besides for wellness and spiritual uses.
The single most important herb that India exports today is Psyllium Husk (Isabgol
Husk), which singularly accounts for nearly 70% of the export value of the Herbs panel.
Following are some example of herb products that can be exported from
India.
1. Ashwagandha Powder,
2. Neem Powder,
3. Moringa Powder,
4. Fenugreek Powder,
5. HIBISCUS POWDER,
6. Garlic powder,
7. Tulsi powder,
8. Amla powder,
9. Musli powder etc.
Worldwide Opportunities in Herbs:
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 80% of the population of
developing countries relies on traditional medicines, mostly plant drugs, for their
primary health care needs.
Modern pharmacopoeia still contains at least 25% drugs derived from plants and many others which are synthetic analogues built on prototype compounds
isolated from plants. An estimate of the EXIM Bank puts the international market of medicinal plants related trade at US$ 60 billion per year growing at the rate of 7% only.
Though India has a rich biodiversity, the growing demand is putting a heavy
strain on the existing resources. In case of medicinal plants, China and India are
the two major production center’s having more than 40% of global biodiversity.
International market for medicinal plants is over US$ 60 billion per year, which is
growing at the rate of 7% annually. China, besides meeting its domestic
requirement, is earning US$ 5 billion per year from herbal trade.
According to the recent estimates, India, at present, exports herbal material and
medicines to the turnover of Rs. 300 crore.
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of
India has launched a “Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plants
Produce (VCSMPP)” on 22nd November, 2017 in order to encourage the Good
Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs) in
medicinal plants.
The VCSMPP will enhance the availability of the certified quality medicinal plants
raw material in the country and also boost their export and increase India’s share
in the global export of herbs.
So there are opportunity to Indian exporter to start export in herbs and highly
demanded products like Isabgol.
