Solidaridad’s intervention is focused on reclaiming sustainability in the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS) and herbal medicine sector through an integrated market-based and entrepreneurial approach
The importance of medicinal plants and derivatives is growing rapidly with human progress in pharmaceutical fields. These plants are a potential source of bio-molecules that play a major role in the modern pharmaceutical industry in treating diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, among others. The demand for medicinal herbs is increasing because of their supposedly fewer or no side effects and rising use globally. They are also considered highly potentially cost-effective means of developing new and breakthrough drugs.
India is a treasure trove of medicinal plants, owing to its rich biodiversity and gold mine of medicinal knowledge. It is the second largest exporter of medicinal plants, next to China, in the world and a host to more than three hundred thousand herbal medicine preparations used in ancient healing systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Homeopathy.
In India, a major volume of medicinal herbs comes from wild sources. Unsustainable harvesting practices of medicinal plants from the wild often result in rapid degradation of the natural biodiversity and poor regeneration capacity. This, in turn, affects the production and supply of medicinal plants from forest areas and the quality of the raw materials.
An all-encompassing solution lies in cultivating these plants outside forest areas and as a part of existing farmlands. This would also enable farmers and farming communities to enhance their income and livelihood through crop diversification with the high-value medicinal plant species.
With that in view, as well as integrating circular and regenerative agriculture principles, Solidaridad has started a program to reclaim sustainability in the medicinal plants and herbal medicines sector through the three facets of the sustainability index: (i) power to the people (Inclusivity) (ii) respect for the planet (Producing in balance with nature) and (iii) a fair share for everyone in the chain (Prosperity).
The program ‘Sustainable Medicinal & Aromatic Plants’ is working towards developing a sustainable value chain of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in selected districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in India through the extension of new technologies and practical knowledge among the growers. It is based on a strategy toward promoting a diversified agro-ecosystem within central India’s predominant soy-based cropping system.
From low-value crops to high-value market-oriented MAPs
The cultivation of MAPs is also fraught with the perils of substitutes and adulterants traded freely in the market, thus affecting the quality and efficacy of the end product. In addition, issues around accurate identification of species and variation in quality plague the sector. The largely unregulated and non-transparent supply chain contributes to the various constraints restricting the growth of the herbal sector in India. The farmers’ lack of access to technical know-how and advisory support for the cultivation and management of MAPs adds to the issue as they often purchase poor-quality planting materials from various sellers at a very high price.
Solidaridad’s intervention is focused on reclaiming sustainability in the medicinal and aromatic plants and herbal medicine sector through an integrated market-based and entrepreneurial approach. Toeing its multi-annual strategic plan, Solidaridad is working on a four-level intervention area: educating farmers with scientific know-how and good agricultural practices, supporting them in developing a viable business ecosystem, enabling an inclusive policy environment, and creating a market for affordable and sustainable products.
The MAPs are identified as promising crop diversification crops, which can make agriculture more remunerative. Crop diversification also builds farmers’ resilience to changing climate and associated risks of crop failure. Smallholder farmers are the most vulnerable to climate change. Extreme weather events in the last few years have brought losses to traditional crops in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Diversifying farmland for cultivating different crops, therefore, acts as a buffer during these times.
The demand for medicinal plants is growing worldwide and has the potential to fetch good income for the farmers compared to traditional crops. The program is encouraging small farmers to implement a shift of resources in the cultivated area, from cereals and low-value crops to high-value medicinal and aromatic plants. These high-value plants require fewer inputs and hence relate to better income realization for farmers along with facilitating their production in balance with nature.
Rising income and livelihood conditions
The MAP program strategy is proving to be effective in stabilizing and raising farm income and increasing employment opportunities while conserving the natural resource base. Crop diversification with MAPs in the program areas has boosted the income of the smallholder farmers. The farmers who started Ashwagandha cultivation after enrolling with Solidaridad have informed that the profit they earned from 1 bigha (0.63 acres) of Ashwagandha crop is equal to the profit they earned from 4 bighas (2.5 acres) of wheat crop. For an investment of Rs 30,000 per acre in production cost, a farmer earned around Rs 300,000 per acre from Ashwagandha cultivation. Crop diversification and the subsequently increased income is helping the farmers face valiantly the myriad challenges in agriculture along with ensuring food and health security of their households valiantly.
Kalu Singh, a farmer from Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, said,“The profit I earned from 0.5 acres of Ashwagandha crop is equal to the profit I had earned from 2.2 acres of wheat crop. I am also selling Ashwagandha seeds to other farmers. The single most significant change I experienced by associating with this program is the manifold increase in my annual income in the last year.”
The program has been implemented with nearly 800 cultivators/growers of medicinal and aromatic plants in the selected districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The MAP crops that require less water and are more profitable have been prioritized, including Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Mentha (Mint), Lemon Grass (Cymbopogan flexosus), Kalmedh (Andrographis Paniculata), Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum), Akarkara (Anacyclus pyrethrum), Black cumin (Nigella sativa), and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) among others.
Enabling market access and entrepreneurship
The program has also enabled the farmers to become entrepreneurs.
Janki Lal Jat, a medicinal plant farmer and entrepreneur from Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, said, “Previously, I was a farmer, and now due to this program and support of the Solidaridad team, I am an entrepreneur. In 2021, I attended a training workshop where I learned about good cultivation practices, certification process, primary processing, market opportunities, and the trade of medicinal plants. There, I also sought the guidance of an expert from Solidaridad about the scope of setting up a primary processing unit at the cottage level… Currently, I own a processing unit where I prepare Ashwagandha powder and Nanchang (dried whole plant), bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers, along with powders of other medicinal plants like Akarkara, Safed Musli, Shatavari, Aonla, Mulethi, Gokhru. I sell these processed products to medical stores and ayurvedic doctors in Jhalawar and Chittorgarh districts. Right now, my unit is producing about 10-12 kg of processed products daily, and the per quintal income/profit from the Ashwagandha plant has increased by Rs 30,000.”
Towards prosperity, inclusivity, and balanced production
Medicinal plants are in demand, yet many farmers hardly know how to cultivate and harvest them or where to find markets. These plants can provide additional income for farmers if they have the knowledge and resources. Also, the MAP crops have higher adaptability to climate change risks. On the other hand, the rising demand for these plants will further boost industry growth. The increasing demand, if met with appropriate sustainability needs, can make for a prosperous business case for the small farmers with higher income. Solidaridad’s ‘Sustainable MAP’ program is an endeavor in the same direction toward building prosperous and inclusive farming communities through eco-friendly, climate-smart, regenerative, and resource-efficient practices.
“Solidaridad has been a front runner in the promotion and implementation of innovative and market-based solutions for various global commodities in the last five decades. Solidaridad aims to reclaim sustainability in the medicinal plants and herbal medicines sector by producing in balance with nature, promoting fair prosperity and inclusivity for all involved in the supply chain,” says Dr SureshMotwani, General Manager, Solidaridad.
