The interactive meeting organised to encourage the cultivators of medicinal plants in Kerala has literally bore fruit with signing of a pact with Care Keralam, the Ayush cluster formed in the state, by more than one hundred growers of herbal drugs.

The farmers of medicinal plants signed the pact in a special ceremony organised as part of the medicinal plant seminar conducted by Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) with the support of Kerala state medicinal plants board at Thrissur on Sunday last.

While inaugurating the seminar, the member of Parliament representing Thrissur, P C Chacko, said all the stake holders of ayurvedic products should focus on increasing the marketing of the medicines.  India is a vast country with a good tradition of ayurvedic drugs, but the total turnover from the sector is below Rs. 5000 crore. Whereas, one single medicine manufactured by a multi national company brings forth an income more than the total Ayush revenue.

He said the population of America is below one fourth of India’s total population, but the production of medicines in India is less than that of the US.

Considering the scope and potential of ayurvedic medicines in treating various diseases, he said now the world market is looking at India for ayurvedic drugs. This shows that there is a bright future for ayurvedic medicines in India. But challenges like declining natural resources have to be met with at any rate. The only way out for this crucial problem is to promote scientific farming of herbal drugs. Collective effort and support from all corners are required for this problem. He wanted the medicinal plant board authorities to encourage the farmers and jointly work with Care Keralam.

The MP advised the farmers to conduct a market study about the scope of their business before starting cultivation.

Regarding AMMOI’s request for insurance coverage for medicinal plant growers, Chacko said he would discuss the matter with some insurance companies and do the needful.

While delivering presidential address, K G Sreekumar, CEO of Kerala medicinal plant board, said SMPB would provide all its support to Care Keralam to create facilities for the farmers of medicinal plants.

Karimpuzha Raman, managing director of Care Keralam said there is shortage of certain plants to manufacture some classical drugs.

The general secretary of AMMOI, Dr D Ramanathan presented report and welcomed the audience. K Radhakrishnan, president, Trissur urban development authority, Dr Joy Varghese, executive director of Care Keralam, Dr Indira Balakrishnan, project director at Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala, Dr Baby Skaria, HoD, Medicinal Research Centre and Dr E T Neelakantan Moss spoke on various topics.