Gujarat to focus on forests to develop herbal products

The Gujarat Forest Department has linked up with the Confederation of Indian Industry to make better use of the forest cover in the state.

This will help meet the local need for forest produce, enhance availability of bio-resources for forest based industries and develop linkages between the locals and the industry, a forest department official said. The plan is aimed primarily at the medicinal herbs, paper and pulp, and plywood industries.

"After globalisation, all the sectors are opening up at a tremendous pace. While the forest department has opened up for local communities, these are very small initiatives," said Arun Kumar Verma, Conservator of Forests, Ahmedabad Social Forestry Circle.

He added that although the world market for herbal products is estimated to be worth $60 billion, India's share was just Rs 448 crore as of the year 2000. The projected share of India in the herbal products market by the end of the current fiscal year is Rs 3000 crore.

Although the initiative is at a primary stage "" the state government will have to announce policy measures at the end of deliberations "" the forest department has already held a couple of meetings, one with the state government and industry and the other at the CII office. The concept is being implemented by the department under the guidance of M L Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat.

The main intention is to ensure that herbal products get a boost in Gujarat and that industries and specifically, the paper, plywood and pharmaceutical sector get a constant flow of raw materials.

Some of the companies that have participated in the meetings organised include Baidyanath, Shri Nimbark Ayurved Pharmacy, J K Paper Limited, Zandu Pharma, Charak Pharmaceuticals, Khushboo Plywood, Oasis Agritech, P S Plywood and the like. The Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association also participated in the meeting.

Some of the main concernes that the industry put forward at the meeting include funding, issues of cross purchase (other companies are likely to purchase products at lower prices), buy back options, quality plantatin stock and the like, say forest officials.

"The department of course intends to act as a facilitator to the project. There are of course instances of buy back beign offered for farmers and several institutions like Nabard, the National Medicinal Plantation Board and the like can come into the picture," says Verma.

While several companies of Gujarat manufacture ayurvedic medicines, there is a certain amount of secrecy on issues like the source of the herbs and the like, thus havign a possible effect on quality, the conservator of forest said.

He added that this project will also help the paper and pulp and plywood industry in Gujarat, even as more and more plywood companies are moving from north eastern states to states like Gujarat.