The Role of Medicinal Plants in Livelihood Improvement in Uttarakhand ISSN 2321-2187

International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2014; 1 (6): 55-58 The Role of Medicinal Plants in Livelihood Improvement in Uttarakhand ISSN 2321-2187 IJHM 2014; 1 (6): 55-58 Received: 10-02-2014 Bipin Chandra Joshi* & Rakesh K. Joshi Accepted: 10-03-2014 ABSTRACT In the face of threats caused by both anthropogenic and natural reasons, the question of the sustainability of medicinal plants has emerged very strongly in recent times. These plant resources, Bipin Chandra Joshi therefore, have become important domains of intervention and are increasingly attracting the attentions Natural Product Laboratory, of public and private sector policy researchers, policy makers and development program implementers. Department of Chemistry, In recognition of such importance this paper is undertaken to focus on important aspects of medicinal LSM Govt. P.G.College, Pithoragarh, plants in Uttarakhand associated with livelihood. Markets for medicinal plants in Uttarakhand are not Uttarakhand 262502, India. in optimally ideal conditions due to an awkwardly longer value chain entangled with many constraints E-mail: [email protected] and weaknesses. Therefore, the research examined production and management through an industry- community partnership approach that can improve the existing medicinal plant value chain. The study Rakesh K. Joshi assessed the local perceptions of the use and cultivation of medicinal plants and the need for Department of Education, conservation of these plants, as well as the features of already ongoing cultivation practices and options Government of Uttrakhand, for increased cultivation. India Keywords: Medicinal plants, Conservation, Tradtional knowledge, traditional uses, livelihood, Ecosystem- based approach, Sustainable use 1. Introduction Uttarakhand is a part of the North-Western Himalayas and is located between 28o 43' – 31o 27' N latitudes and 77o 34' – 81o 02' E longitudes. The river Tons separates the state from Himachal Pradesh in the north-west, whereas the river Kali separates it from Nepal in the east. The greater Himalaya is the northern boundary of the state and is also the international border with China (Tibet). Foot-hills in the south are bound by Uttar Pradesh. The total geographical area of the state is 53,483 sq. Km.; it is split into 13 districts within two revenue divisions, of which approximately 89% is mountainous. Of the total geographical area, about 19% is under permanent snow cover, glaciers and steep slopes. The total population of the state is 1.01 Crores (Census 2011). Water, agriculture, forestry and energy, among other issues, are central to the State’s inclusive strategy for future growth. Most of the people of this state are dependent on their natural environment, with over three-fourths of the total population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Uttarakhand State is well endowed with forest and valuable water resources with over fifteen important rivers. The promotion and development of processing of medicinal and aromatic plants have gained momentum recently in many developing countries. Green consumerism and resurgence of interest for plant based products, liberalized and free market economy, increasing awareness about biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources coupled with poor socio-economic conditions of native populations are ground realities for planning and harnessing the low-cost and purpose oriented process technologies [1-4]. This paper shows the assumptions and results of a study to assess the role of medicinal plants Correspondence: for improving livelihoods and an expansion of medicinal plant vegetation in the forest and the Bipin Chandra Joshi Natural Product Laboratory, role of students and youth in conservation. Department of Chemistry, LSM Govt. P.G.College, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand 262502, India. E-mail: [email protected] ~ 55 ~ International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2. Methodology enable farmers to increase their income without unduly affecting It consisted of participatory assessments and field surveys in four their existing crops. The study reveals that local people still depend villages of Munakote Block of District Pithoragarh namely on a number of plants for their daily needs especially for Doubans, Bhateri, Amkot, Dhaulkanda involving around 350 medicines. persons and participatory trials with 25 rural women selling medicinal plants on urban markets since August 2009. Regular 3.2 Herbal and Medicinal plant products visits were made to collect the data. A semi-structure questionnaire Plants have been used since ancient times to heal and cure diseases survey was conducted among knowledgeable traditional Vaidyas and to improve health and wellbeing. Medicinal plants are chiefly randomly with a view to document the knowledge on the use of used for curing stomach pain, fever, cold and cough, bleeding and medicinal plants. The survey also gathered information about the wounds, fungal infection, burns, rheumatic pain, insect bite, local names of medicinal plants, plant parts used in treatment, and influenza, diarrhoea, jaundice and cirrhosis [11-13]. Medicinal plant number of ailments being treated by medicinal plant formulations. provides herbal medicines to the peoples. Herbal medicines are It was based on the assumption of poverty alleviation not only also referred to as herbal remedies, herbal products, herbal referring to an increase in income and labor, but also an increase in medicinal products, phytomedicines, phytotherapeutic agents and social capital and human dignity. phytopharmaceuticals. 3. Result and Discussion Despite ancient nature of the tradition, medicinal plants still form 3.1 Medicinal Plant Research the basis of traditional or indigenous health systems and are In recent times, focus on plant research has increased all over the reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) to still be used world and a large body of evidence has collected to show immense by the majority of the populations in most developing countries. potential of medicinal plants used in various traditional systems [5, The search for healing power in plant products is an age-old idea 6]. Uttarakhand state is the hub of medicinal plants species due to its and throughout the history man has relied on nature for their food, rich biodiversity. Uttarakhand has just 14% of the total land under clothing, shelter, transportation and medicines. WHO has estimates cultivation and about 65% of population depends on agriculture for that about 80% population of the world depends on plant as a their livelihood. The state has tremendous potential for medicinal primary source of medicine in their traditional system. It is thus a plants cultivation and it can become one of the important options matter of utmost concern to public health and indeed to human life for sustainable livelihood for the hilly area. New approaches of that urgent action is taken to prevent further diminution of actual biotechnology and conservation strategy can help preserve and and potential availability of medicinal and biological agents. utilize the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants for humankind [7, 8]. Thus their knowledge must be considered as an Medicinal plants are used as raw materials for extraction of active essential component of all efforts to conserve and develop in rural constituents in pure form (eg. alkaloids like quinine and quinidine areas. The cultivation of medicinal plants is considered to be of from cinchona bark, emetine from ipecacuanha root, glycosides great importance for the safeguarding of biodiversity and from digitalis leaves, sennosides from senna leaves), as precursors contribution to rural livelihoods in Uttarakhand. It is hoped that for synthetic vitamins or steroids, and as preparations for herbal cultivated medicinal plant material will provide an alternative and indigenous medicines. Medicinal plants provide the natural source of supply to the market, and thereby reduce the need for raw material for most oral and non-oral traditional medications [14]. collection of these plants from the wild. Cultivation will also There is huge commercial value in the oils and essences extracted provide an additional source of income for the state’s rural poor. from aromatic and medicinal plants. Aromatic plants like lemon The growing demand has not only resulted in increased hazard for grass, citronella, palmarosa, chamomilla, tulsi, geranium, overexploitation of wild plant populations, but also increased naramotha, Japanese mint, khuas, and marigold are used interest in cultivation. Due to poor land quality and the small size extensively in the cosmetics industry. There is scope for medicinal of landholdings lead to low rural incomes in the state. plants and medicinal trees like tejpatta, amla, harad, and bahera are being planted. There is high demand for ritha but the forest Since agricultural income cannot sustain the families for more than department has not taken any initiatives. There is a great deal of four months in a year. Under these conditions, the major challenges potential for the development of these crops in the hill regions before the state are to achieve economic prosperity without losing without much heavy investment. Medicinal principles are present out on its biodiversity. In this context the state need to start a in different parts of the plant like root, stem, bark, heartwood, leaf, choice of pursuing the path of cultivation of medicinal and flower, fruit or plant exudates. aromatic plants, which not only provide a livelihood

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