PA01.54. Sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants: A multi dimentional solution of global problems

PURPOSE: To fulfill the global demand of medicinal plants massive cultivation of medicinal plants through organic farming in a sustainable manner is the need of the hour. It can meet the global demand, supply raw drugs to the pharmaceutical industries, conserve the threatened medicinal plants and save the environment from hazards effects. METHOD: Based on the observation made by the author during the Study of Medicinal Plants of Orissa in Ayurvedic Therapy (Ph.D. thesis, Utkal University, 2005), a good number of threatened medicinal plants have been recorded and preserved in the herbaria. Those species are enumerated according to International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) along with their family, classical names, medicinal uses, and threatened category (regionally and globally). On Priority basis sustainable cultivation with appropriate agro techniques using bio fertilizer has also been incorporated. RESULT: Cultivation of medicinal plants in traditional methods has advantages over conservation (Insitu /exsitu) and other modern propagation technology (Bio technology) to preserve the secondary metabolites present in the plant for improving medicinal efficacy. It will also fulfill the global demand of raw drugs and suitable cash crops for farmers. Procured raw drugs will be available to the end users as well as to the pharmaceutical industries efficiently and effectively with more export potential. Ultimately, the threatened species will be conserved and lead towards protection of environmental pollution. CONCLUSION: Since global demands of medicinal plants exceed production, the world to day claims sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants, particularly those are at the verge of extinction. The core aspects centered on biodiversity conservation based cultivation.