Special Reports

Export Potential of Herbal and Medicinal Plants in India

Dr. Vinod Singh & Mrs. Shaili Vadera
Nov 2010
There is an awakening all over the world on the use of age old wisdom of traditional systems of medicine for treatment of various ailments and diseases. Herbal Remedies are used by people in almost every corner of the world in some form or the other. The main occupation of majority of people living in rural India still continues to be agriculture. About 70% of the Indian population, including the rural and the tribal population is sustaining on traditional agricultural practices as a source of livelihood. Besides growing edible food crops like vegetables, fruits, cereals and pulses, the farmers also grow various types of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) which constitute an integral part of traditional home remedies.

India's Export Performance of Medicinal Plants Since 1991   

Despite tremendous advances in modern science, the interest in alternative modes of treatment is rising in the western countries towards herbal products. India and China are two of the largest countries in Asia, which have the richest arrays of registered and relatively well-known medicinal plants. India is still lagging behind in exports of herbal medicines in the world as shown in the graph below. World over China commands the supreme position in export trade in medicinal herbs. Today, one fourth of the world population depends on traditional medicines. India's share in medicinal plant export in global trade is very low about 8.13% as against 28% of China.  

Herbal and Medicinal Plants of India

The trend growth rate of India from the year 1991 to 2002 shows 4.95% growth of world export value of medicinal plants. Similarly the trend growth rate of China from 1991-2002 is 7.38%. 

Market Demand and Scope of Trade Related to Herbal and Medicinal Plants in India   

India is a land to about 17,000 species of higher plants, out of which 7500 are known for their therapeutic uses. Ayurveda, has alone reported approximately 2000 medicinal plant species, followed by Siddha and Unani. The Charak Samhita, an ancient written document with rich literature regarding herbal therapy, production of around 340 herbal drugs and their indigenous uses for curing various ailments and diseases. According to a study (Kate 1999), 18% of the world's top 150 prescription drugs are derived from plant sources. The demand for medicinal plant-based raw materials is growing at the rate of 15 to 25% annually worldwide. Global market size for herbal and medicinal plants is estimated at US$ 60 billion and is projected to reach US$ 5 trillion by 2050 (source WHO 2003). About 75% to 80% of the total exports of crude drugs come from India.

India dominates the world market in production and export of Psyllium husk and seeds. India exports 80% of the psyllium available in the world market. The United States is the world's largest importer of psyllium "husk" with over 60% of total imports going to pharmaceutical firms. Metamucil, is India's single largest customer.

Due to awareness about Isabgol, demand is pouring in from Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, Spain and UK. India is also a leading producer of menthol and now dominates 70% of the world market. Other Medicinal plants that have established export demand include senna leaves & pods, sandalwood chips, Jojoba seeds, aloe, pyrethrum, basil, neem, chirayata etc. Recent market trends indicate that the export market in India is growing faster than the domestic market. India is also one of the major exporters of crude drugs mainly to the six developed countries-USA, Germany, France, Switzerland, UK and Japan. After making the presence felt in the US and EU, Indian traditional medicinal plants will now venture into new territories namely — Australia and New Zealand.

The government of India has also initiated several schemes for encouraging cultivation and promotion of herbals across India. Some commercially important Medicinal Plants are:- Amla, Chirata, Kalmegh, Safed Musali, Ashok, Daruhaldi, Kokum, Sarpgandha, Ashwagandha, Giloe, Kuth, Senna, Atees, Gudmar Kutki, Shatavari, Bael, Guggal, Makoy, Tulsi, Bhumi, Amlaki, Isabgol, Mulethi, Vai Vidang, Brahmi, Jatamansi, Patharchur (Coleus), Vatsnabh, Chandan, Kalihari, Pippal, etc.

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29 Comments >>
dr ajay singhal
14 May 2013 (22:03:09)
i want to start buissness of export of medicinal plants and want to know what plant i should grow where is that needed more how to get list of buyers what are the formalities
n.elumalai
13 May 2013 (07:06:26)
sir i am tamilnadu,i want enter into export business on herbs line.i am also small farmer. so what a herbs wanted the other country.how is cultivate.please give feedback on helful my business
Rajakumar
30 Apr 2013 (02:32:33)
Sir, am from Tamilnadu, me finished my Ph.D., in natural products,I want to enter into export business especially herbs. please guide me what herb is easy to cultivate.. shall i use it for export. how to export, where to export. what is the quantity required to export. please give your valuable feedback, which will help me to involve in this business.
bhoopendra singh
26 Apr 2013 (04:50:24)
i want to do agriculture scientifically and to develop herbal plants. kindly advise me which type of herbs can be cultivated in villupuram distsrict of tamilnadu, india and the marketing potential for such items.
B. Karunamoorthy
25 Apr 2013 (02:28:58)
i want to do agriculture scientifically and to develop herbal plants. kindly advise me which type of herbs can be cultivated in villupuram distsrict of tamilnadu, india and the marketing potential for such items.
sumanta sahu
23 Apr 2013 (07:55:37)
I WANT TO BE AN AGENT FOR EXPORTING HERBAL CRUD PRODUCT .
ishaq sayed
06 Apr 2013 (15:26:23)
we want to enter in to export business of herbal medicine in USA .tell us the legal procedure. and if any license required can you give us the list of importers world wide. we have import export license. contact:09823240407 mail:- fabzinfo@yahoo.com
MUNIS
05 Apr 2013 (05:28:56)
SIR I WILL START THIS BUSINESS SO GIVE ME A SOME GUIDE LINES FOR THE STARTING THE BUSINESS
vyomesh anasnd
23 Mar 2013 (05:46:27)
sir, I want to know about the scope of medicinal plant i have near about 90 bigha of land in bihar and I want to which medicinal plant I can grow where i can get the buyer of my crop how much will be the production per bigha and what will be the profit per bigha.
Alee S E
23 Mar 2013 (12:03:16)
Thanks Wow my dream will come true.
Ravindra B.
18 Mar 2013 (06:16:48)
I am looking to export of herbal medicine like Pipali, Musali, please tell me the legal procedure, if any lenience required can you give us the list of importers world wide. If possible tell me can i require any registration or documents to carry such material within India,if yes which are this, and can I get details of Delhi's contact who are the buyers of Pipali and Musali.
B vikasreddy
18 Feb 2013 (06:16:39)
i am looking for more information which plants is profit and how should it grows
B.SRINIVASA RAO
16 Feb 2013 (02:54:23)
i want to know about medicinal plant cultivation and export please suggest
Neelesh kumar singh
07 Feb 2013 (10:11:40)
Hi sir, I want to do contract farming of medicinal initially in madhya pradesh for the benifits of farmers and educate then by their benifits in their day today life. first they can grow for their own benifits and then their area should increases after knowing their benifits. so please guide me the important medicinal plants on climate based and there markets with all the legal formalties for its export at national and international level.
Dr. Samarth
06 Feb 2013 (14:44:28)
pls provide the schemes details which initiated by government of india for cultivation of of medicinal plants .
bakiyaraj
05 Feb 2013 (11:06:31)
We are exporter for herbal and medicinal plants from tamil nadu we also provide and guide for all product export and various country.cantact via mail kbjexims@gmail.com.
jitendra verma
02 Feb 2013 (17:34:00)
About market of medicinal plant like satavar,ashwagadha,sarpgandha etc
rajesh sharma
24 Dec 2012 (18:17:49)
we want to enter in to export business of herbal medicine .tell us the legal procedure. and if any licecence required can you give us the list of importeres world wide.and in which country we can send herbal medicine
S.D.Goswami
21 Dec 2012 (10:02:51)
I wish to know to venture for herbal export and shall be grateful for your guidelines as I have very little idea about export business though I always advocate for this herbal items and came in touch with professors of IIT,Kharagpur,BHU,Varanasi,MP Govt.Herbal Research Institute and some other persons who also like me preach for herbal products and its use only. Look forward to your valuable advice. Thanking you, S.D.Goswami Former Prog.Director,ICCR
Sagar Sengupta
14 Dec 2012 (08:46:10)
We have been associated with cultivation and collection of medicinal plants in West Bengal, intend to develop our marketing area into national and international market.
manoj
31 Oct 2012 (07:22:40)
I want to enter into export business/domestic market especially herbs. shall i use it for export. how to export, where to export. what is the quantity required to export. please give your valuable feedback, which will help me to involve in this business.
Anil Kumar
29 Oct 2012 (02:44:34)
Hi Sir, Iam very much intrested in starting own herbal medical unit in & around HYD. Request you to kindly let me know details via email or please leave your contact number for me to contact. I would be reachable on nanduri1477@gmail.com
Raihana
26 Oct 2012 (13:50:48)
I want to enter into export business especially herbs. please guide me what herb is easy to cultivate. i have aloevera and karpooravalli in my home. shall i use it for export. how to export, where to export. what is the quantity required to export. please give your valuable feedback, which will help me to involve in this business.
mukeshbhatia
16 Oct 2012 (02:13:16)
we want to enter in to export business of herbs .tell us the legal procedure. and if any licecence required ,i am b.a.m.s. can you give us the list of importeres world wide.and in which country we can send herbs
Vivek
29 Nov 2011 (01:44:52)
Hi, this report seem to be very useful. request you to send all this kind of reports and updates to the given mail ID. Thanks and regards, Vivek
deepti
27 Sep 2011 (03:49:31)
what is cost of cultivation of gudmar per acre and what is the profit per acre. sir please suggest me.
deepti verma
27 Sep 2011 (03:50:39)
what is cost of cultivation of gudmar per acre and what is the profit per acre. sir please suggest me.
PINAKI ATTREYA
08 Jul 2011 (07:44:22)
i got great knowledge about indian herbal exports.
shyamaprasad shome
07 Mar 2011 (11:40:05)
i m interested for exporting herbal plant from india. pl provide me details