The export and import of Ayush related products from India continuously moved on an upward trend for several decades with steady growth rate, except during 2009-10 when the economic recession hit across the world, according to the official figures released by the Department of Ayush.


During the last four Plan periods, total trade of Ayush related items had increased from Rs.580.98crore in 1995-96 to Rs.2540.79 crore in 2009-10 showing a growth rate of 13.08 per cent per annum.


During the 11th five year plan, export of Ayush products has increased from Rs.2275.64 crore in 2007-08 to Rs.2887.01 crore in 2009-10, showing an average annual growth rate of 12.63 per cent whereas on an average, the import of Ayush products has increased by 14.99 per cent annually, from Rs.261.82 crore in 2007-07 to Rs.346.22 crore in 2009-10. Thus, during this plan the total trade of Ayush products has increased substantially from Rs.2537.46 crore in 2007-08 to Rs.3233.24 crore in 2009-10, showing the average annual growth rate of 12.88 per cent, as compared to 5.63 per cent average annual growth rate in total trade during 10th five year plan.


Since 2003-04, a continuous growing trend has been observed in India’s foreign trade with respect to Ayush related Items in respect of export, import and net value addition upto 2008-09. During 2009-10, slight decreasing trend has been observed in respect of export, import and total trade of Ayush related Items.


“The reason behind this declining trend may be that 2009 was not a normal year from economic point of view and even all India total trade was experiencing the same declining trend. During 2009-10, percentage share of Ayush products in the total trade of India was 0.15 per cent. Similarly, Ayush products shared 0.34 per cent of export and 0.03 per cent of Import of India. All India balance of trade have always been negative since the ninth plan period 1996-97, while Ayush related products always shown a positive balance of Trade, indicating that Ayush products are having significant role in foreign trade of the country,” the report by the Department said.