Medicinal plants' demand under study

The state government has undertaken a demand assessment for the consumption of medicinal, aromatic and neutraceutical plants as raw materials by the pharmaceutical industry in Andhra Pradesh, according to Manoranjan Bhanja, the executive director of Andhra Pradesh State Medicinal and Aromatic plants Board (APMAB).

Currently, registration of farmers and traders has begun along with several measures afoot to promote the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

The board which met here today discussed the development of marketing structure and linkage of the cultivation to the industry besides other issues like pricing mechanism, Bhanja said. The board also plans to promote the 'herbal home garden' concept in urban areas, he said.

Over ten projects were sanctioned by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) for contractual farming during 2002-03 and 76 fresh proposals were submitted for clearance. NMPB sanctioned two promotional projects costing about Rs 50 lakh each.