Cultivation of medicinal plants at farmer's field - an experience
2005
Ahmad, Z. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Plant Genetic Resources Program)
The medicinal plant species are considered to constitute an important group having significant role in crop diversification, poverty alleviation and sustenance of small farmers. Many reports available indicate the high economic returns through growing medicinal plants but all these relate to studies conducted at research stations. In a present study under a MINFAL funded project on "Introduction of Medicinal Herb and Spices as Crops (IMHSC)", the economics of cultivating Plantago ovata (Isphagol), Lallemantia royleana (Tukham-e-Balangoo), Nigella sativa (Kalongi), Foeniculum vulgare (Sonf), Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) and Matricaria chammomilla (Gul-e-Baboona) were assessed at farmer's field. A total income of Rs.17,500 from Nigella sativa, Rs.13,300 from Trachyspermum ammi, Rs.16,000 from Lallemantia royleana, Rs.14,750 from Plantago ovata and Rs.16,800 from Foeniculum vulgare per acre was obtained. The maximum economic return of Rs.60,000 pe r acre was calculated from Matricaria chamomilla but has little local market consumption and a high input cost for post harvest processing. The cultivation of these species in rainfed areas faces germination problem due to poor moisture contents available at sowing time. In rainfed areas, the cultivation of Trachyspermum ammi had better results, as it is drought tolerant. The use of quality seeds and chemical fertilizers (DAP) resulted in 40-50 percent increase in yield in Lallemantia royleana and Plantago ovata at farmer's field. The poor-marketing infrastructure, high fluctuation in prices and lack of support prices discourage the farmers in growing medicinal plants.
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