The use of medicinal plants in health protection and care has a long history, just like the history of human civilization. The contribution of herbal medicine and remedies to health and well-being has been recognized since the beginning of creation, as they have been crucial in maintaining human existence on Earth. Throughout history, including in Bangladesh and various parts of the world, herbal remedies have been used in various forms and under different names for the healthcare of individuals. Despite the advancements in modern medicine and pharmaceuticals, it is not possible to explain the current status of healthcare and medicine without acknowledging the significance of herbal remedies. With the rapid progress of science and technology, the utility of herbal remedies is constantly expanding. Herbal medicine is undoubtedly scientific and effective. There is no doubt or dispute about the efficacy and functionality of herbal medicine. However, questions can be raised regarding the properties and effectiveness of herbal medicine from a comprehensive perspective, including the field of pharmaceutical science and modern allopathic medicine. Because these medicines are derived directly from natural medicinal plants, and many modern allopathic medicines are still derived from plants and produced using their extracted chemical compounds.
Herbal medicine still plays a significant role in maintaining overall health and well-being of people in various countries. People from different parts of the world rely on herbal medicine for their general health and well-being. Approximately 80% of the global population depends on herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In other words, if herbal medicine did not exist, this vast population would be deprived of healthcare services. Recognizing this truth about herbal medicine, the World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommends the use of herbal its development programs.
The rationality of cultivating medicinal plants
• In order to produce medicinal drugs, the necessary raw materials are collected or harvested from various medicinal plant sources. Generally, medicinal plant materials that naturally grow in forests are collected to obtain raw materials for medicinal drugs. However, according to scientific methods, it is preferable to collect medicinal plants from cultivated sources, otherwise natural medicinal plants may become extinct. Additionally, cultivated medicinal plants have higher quality characteristics. By controlling the production and harvesting methods of medicinal plants within the cultivated area, there is an opportunity to collect them at the right time and in the right manner. In the case of wild sources, such certainty is not guaranteed. In this case, there is a risk of incorrect plant and material collection, as, if medicinal plants are collected at the wrong time, at an inappropriate age, or through improper methods, the resulting medicinal drugs are never of good quality.
“Medicinal plants are environmentally friendly in sufficient quantities. Almost all medicinal plants have the ability to purify the environment. Medicinal plants are capable of naturally destroying various disease-causing organisms present in the air. Therefore, the cultivation of medicinal plants can play an important role in environmental purification, which is becoming increasingly important as the cultivation of medicinal plants is being contaminated over time.
Most medicinal plants do not require artificial pesticides and fertilizers for cultivation. Most medicinal plants can be harvested throughout the year or in a very short period, collecting fruits or necessary parts. This is why the use of medicinal plants in comparative cultivation is much less but more profitable.
There are also several other medicinal plants, including mushrooms, which require very little space for cultivation, making them suitable for landless or remote communities.
In economic analysis, the cultivation of medicinal plants
“Medicinal plants are environmentally friendly in sufficient quantities. Almost all medicinal plants have the ability to purify the environment. Medicinal plants are capable of naturally destroying various pathogenic microorganisms present in the air. Therefore, the cultivation of medicinal plants can play an important role in environmental purification.
• Most medicinal plants do not require synthetic pesticides or fertilizers for cultivation. Most medicinal plants can be harvested throughout the year or in a very short time to obtain fruits or necessary parts. As a result, the use of medicinal plants in cultivation is much less, but the benefits are more.
• Mushrooms and other medicinal plants require very little space for cultivation, making them suitable for more profitable than any other agriculture, as there is a wide demand for medicinal plants both domestically and internationally.
• Due to the extensive demand for medicinal plants, farmers do not need to hurry to sell or market medicinal plants. This reduces the risk of cultivating medicinal plants.
• Medicinal plant cultivation requires relatively less labor. Medicinal plants do not require much care, making it possible for women to participate in family-level cultivation.
• If medicinal plant cultivation becomes extensive in the country, medicinal treatments and medicines will become more easily available, resulting in reduced healthcare expenses for the poor.
Current Status and Importance of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh:
There is a difference of opinion regarding the total number of medicinal plants in Bangladesh. Although 546 medicinal plants have been mentioned in the demand for the mentioned medicinal plants. Besides, many medicinal plants are sold in cities and villages. Various traditional healers, quacks, and indigenous communities across Bangladesh use abundant quantities of medicinal plants, for which no accurate statistics are available. Apart from the mentioned medicinal plants, there is a demand for various other medicinal plants in these industries.”
In our country, there are several notable and profitable medicinal plants that can be easily cultivated. These include Arjun, Ashoka, Aloe vera, Dalim/Anar, Amlaki, Kutaja/Kurchi, Koyetabel/Katfal, Kathal, Kanchan, Kamranga, Kuchila, Khoyerkhadir, Ganiari, Gab, Gamar/Gambhari, Gora lebu/Jamir, Chandan, Chapa/Champak, Chalta, Chalmugra, Chhatim, Jayanti, Jam, Tejpat, Tetul, Daruchini, Dhaiful, Nim, Nishinda, Palash, Parbal, Peyton, Bohera, Batabi lebu, Bel, Mahua, Rakt Chandan, Robrari, Rohitaka, Shimul, Sona, Sajne, Sonalu Karpur, Ghodanim, Nageswar, Anantamul, Angur, Atmagupta/Alkushi, Gandhabhaduli, Guruchi, Gulanch, Chai, Potol, Purnanaba, Bhiringraja, Shatmuli, Arshogandha, Erand, Olot Kombol, Kalkashunde, Kalomegh, Golap, Ghritakumari, Chita (Shada/Lal), Sarpagandha, Jaba, Tulsi, Bola, Bamunhati, Bask, Babui Mehedee, Shalpani, Tokma, and many more.
The demand for medicinal plants in the global market
The demand for medicinal plants in the world market is approximately $43 billion annually. Only in the United States, herbal medicine worth $1.3 billion is sold each year. Since 1980, the modern medical system in the United States has been using several allopathic drugs. Among them, $8 billion worth of medicinal plants are used. In Germany, this demand is around $4 billion annually. Dr. Abdul Gani presented this information in the book “Medicinal Plants” published by the Bangladesh Academy in 2002. Global demand for medicinal plants has multiplied and continues to increase.
In33% of allopathic medicines are prepared from chemical sources. In Russia, more than 47% of allopathic medicines produced and used are derived from medicinal plants. About 60% of allopathic medicines are prepared from plants in tropical countries. In France and Germany, about 30-40% of doctors depend on herbal medicines for their medical services.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global market for medicinal plants is worth $62 billion. This demand increases at a rate of 10.15% annually. Currently, the majority of this massive market is dominated by India and China. The leading importing countries of medicinal plants are the United States, Australia, European countries. Apart from them, countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Korea, Thailand, and many others have extensive use and demand for medicinal plants. On the other hand, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 4 billion people worldwide use some form of herbal medicine. The number of users of herbal medicine is increasing, and with it, the demand for medicinal plants worldwide. The quantity of medicinal plants exported from our country is less than 1% of the total demand.
The cultivation of medicinal plants has significant economic importance. Medicinal plant cultivation is more profitable and safe compared to any other crop. There is a huge demand for medicinal plants worldwide. China earns $30 billion, India earns $6 billion, and South Korea earns $2.3 billion annually from medicinal plant exports. In addition to the possibility of high profits, farmers can benefit from medicinal plant cultivation without the need for intensive labor. The cultivation process of most medicinal plants is simple. Fertilizers and pesticides play a minimal role in medicinal plant cultivation, resulting in lower production costs for farmers. Furthermore, the production of medicinal plants, especially those belonging to expenses. Despite this, the market value of these plants is quite high.
“Family Medicinal Garden for Poverty Alleviation and Health Protection”
In our country, we have a wide variety of medicinal plants that grow naturally in the villages, even in neglected lands. If we can strategically develop family medicinal gardens with essential and easily accessible medicinal plants, we can provide additional economic assistance to those affected by minor ailments without spending money. Building a family medicinal garden requires minimal effort and expense, as these plants can be cultivated conveniently around the house or on abandoned lands. Women of the household can take care of these gardens. Since medicinal plants do not require fertilizers or pesticides for their cultivation, the expenses associated with these gardens are very low. By establishing medicinal gardens in every household, we can make a significant contribution to medicinal farming at the farmer level.
Recently, Afaaj Uddin (Pagla Afaaj) from Natore has undertaken a successful initiative, for which he has received government approval. Through his individual effort, he has developed the country’s only “Medicinal Village” in several villages, including Lakshmipur, Pijippa, Ibrahimapur, Sonapur, Chanpur, Dakshinpur, Doyatpara, and Sultanpur. If numerous “Medicinal Villages” can be created throughout the country, it can be a new dimension in our agriculture sector. Medicinal plants but also play a significant role in combating various invisible pathogens present in the environment and the air. Therefore, extensive cultivation of medicinal trees can ensure both human health protection and environmental conservation.
Multiple uses of medicinal plants
There are certain medicinal plants that can be used not only for medicine but also for making effective herbal insecticides. For example, the fruit of the neem tree and the leaves of the nim tree are used to make highly effective herbal insecticides. By using such herbal insecticides, we can not only reduce the expenditure on importing chemical pesticides but also play an important role in environmental conservation. Besides medicines and raw materials, our country has many plants that possess valuable medicinal properties, which can be used to produce high-qualityic system of medicine refers to the water apple as a tonic and a rejuvenator. In the Sundarbans region, there are plentiful naturally grown wild fruits that are rich in vitamins and nutrients.
Alternative child food in our country has been using shotimul (a type of tree) since ancient times. This food is collected naturally from the root of the shoti tree, which is rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. The shoti root is processed into powder form, which can be found in tins or packaged in the market. As a result, while the child’s health improves on one hand, the import of harmful powdered milk decreases. Despite the high profitability of shoti cultivation, farmers are not interested due to lack of proper promotion and technical knowledge. If the neglected process of cultivating, it can become a milestone in our agricultural industry.
The main reason behind the rapid progress in the production of herbal plants, medicinal herbs, and herbal products in India, Sri Lanka, and China is national cooperation. Sufficient government support exists in these countries for the cultivation of herbal plants. The governments of these countries provide adequate support in terms of financial assistance, technological advancements, and market integration. Unfortunately, our country’s agricultural department lacks sufficient information and technology in this regard. However, various donor organizations, including the World Health Organization, provide significant financial support in this field in our country. In this regard, there are only a few government initiatives in our country that can be seen through a few demonstration farms.
The commercial cultivation of medicinal plants has not yet started in Bangladesh, either by the government or individuals. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of government support. Although the use of modern technology in agriculture has begun in our country’s agricultural system, the cultivation of medicinal plants still largely relies on traditional practices or occurs naturally. For successful cultivation of medicinal plants, the relevant environment needs to be more genuine. Otherwise, despite the potential and opportunities, our medicinal plant cultivation will lag behind other possibilities. If we can achieve sufficient government and private sector support in our country, we can undoubtedly claim the position of being a leading producer of medicinal plants in the world, as we have a rich heritage of cultivation and use of medicinal plants.
