Karnataka Medicinal Plants Authority (KMPA) which developed the final strategy document on the conservation and economic utilization of medicinal plants continues to be in cold storage. The document was submitted to the government in March 2009 and was due for clearance by June 2009.

The state government has been lackadaisical towards its approval. There have been no efforts on the part of the government to clear the document. The strategy was a road map for the 11th Five Year Plan and the state medicinal plant board had consulted the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) while framing the rules, said officials from Karnataka Forest Department.

The document was also submitted to the NMPB which have a meeting in Bangalore in mid-May to take a look at the same, the officials added. According to S Venu Gopal, additional principal chief conservator of Forests, Medicinal Plants wing, Karnataka Forest department, the strategy document was vital for conservation of endangered species and cultivation of medicinal plants. There is also an urgent need to ensure the protection of medicinal plants' cultivation on farm lands.

The main focus of the strategy document was to change the source of the medicinal plants from 'forest-to-factory'. This is because of the rampant practice of its access from 'farm-to-firm'. The key aim was to bring in a uniform pricing for the produce. Present practice has seen over 80 per cent of the medicinal plants being picked up directly from the forests and supplied to the industry. This has resulted in the quality of the pick and poor pricing, said Gopal.

"The industry requires good quality raw materials. Therefore a national guidelines with cultivation protocols is the need of the hour," he said.

"The need for a medicinal plant strategy is mandatory. Only if rules are in place and if regulation of raw material utilization from forests is enforced can we protect the endangered species," said Gopal.

Pharmabiz had reported earlier that introduction of Quality Production Management (QPM) practices during collection, storage, distribution and at nurseries together with focus on genetic improvement, cultivation protocol and market research would help in boosting the growth of the herbal industry and exports.

Besides, the State Board has also pressed upon the requirement of a legal and administrative support. There is also need for the research institutes to develop a protocol for the cultivation of all medicinal plants including tree species.

The total value of the herbal sector in India is estimated at Rs 8,800 crore. The number of medicinal plants based formulations is estimated at around 25,000. At least 6,200 species can be used for production of plant based formulations. Modern medicine uses 204 species, Homoeopathy 506, Ayurveda 2351, Siddha 1785, Unani 979, Tibetan 350 and Folk 5137.