Onfarm value addition with CRIDA Herbal Dryer

Abstract

india has been identified as one of the top twelve mega-biodiversity centers of the world with immensely rich medicinal, aromatic plants, fruits and vegetables occurring in diverse ecosystems. India which is the biggest repository of medicinal and aromatic plants in the world has to maintain an important position in the production and trade of raw materials either directly for crude drugs or as the bioactive compound in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The demand for plant based raw materials has increased enormously in both national and international markets. International markets for medicinal plants are increasing at the rate of 7% annually of which India share is only about 3-5 % while China is one of the leading countries in the world in export of herbal drugs besides meeting its large domestic demands (Rajeshwar Rao and Rajput 2005). India should develop its domestic market as well as exploit international trade, which is large and quickly growing. Hence there is enormous scope for India to emerge as a major player in the global herbal products. But various lacunae pertaining to quality of herbal drugs do exist which are the major hindrances to come up to the expected level of trade of these medicines both within and outside the country. Hence it is necessary to augment the availability of quality raw materials at the first instance and generate value added products that have better commercial value. The technology adds value to the farm produce by a multiple factor in pharmaceutical industry. An cited illustration based on the price of steroidal Yam marketed as raw material have value at US $10 M per year which rises to US $ 100 M at steroid selling stage and goes up to one billion when sold as sex hormone and contraceptives to the consumer (Edward Ayensu (1987)). It is, therefore, desirable that our country which exports raw materials should increasingly produce intermediary value added chemicals and upstream phytochemicals to harness better unit price of the farm produce.