Known for its varied agroclimatic conditions, Himachal Pradesh (HP) is most suitable for cultivation, conservation, propagation and development of medicinal plants. About two-thirds of the geographical area of this hill state being a designated forest, around 2,500 tonnes of medicinal plant-related material from 165 species is officially harvested from the state’s forests and exported every year. The legal annual trade in medicinal plants in the state is worth about Rs.10 crores over and above the parallel illicit trade suspected. Due to various anthropogenic pressures, the state’s forests are getting degraded and fragmented posing serious risk of extinction to many high-value medicinal plant species. The trade in medicinal plants is thus largely unregulated, secretive and exploitative with cultivation being restricted to only a few species with 60 medicinal plants being red-listed.
Centrally coordinated, participative nature of management of the medicinal plant trade is needed to regulate and effectively utilize/conserve the natural wealth bestowed upon the state.
- State Medicinal Plant Board, Shimla
- Advanced Centre for Hill Bioresources and Biotechnology, Palampur
- Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla
- Department of Ayurveda, Research Institute in Indian System of Medicine, Joginder Nagar, Mandi
- Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry – Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan
- Himalayan Research Group, DST, Chotta Shimla
- Himachal Pradesh Medicinal Plants Society, HP Forest Department
- Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Palampur, HP
- Herbal Garden, Herbarium and Research Institute, Government of HP, Joginder Nagar, Shimla
- National Board of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Shimla
- Ayush Herbs, Nagrota Bagwan
- Baijnath Pharma, Baijnath
- Chadda Traders, Nagrota Bagwan
- Dhanwantri Herbals, Solan
- Bioveda Action Research (P) Ltd., Dharamkot
- Government Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Jogendar Nagar, Majra, Paprola
- Hemma Herbs (P) Ltd., Solan
- Himachal Ayurveda Pharmacy, Kangra
- Kangra Hill Care and Cure Products, Kangra
- Vets Farma Ltd., Una
- Yogmaya Pharmacy, Kangra
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