Designing for development: principles and practices of a sustainable medicinal plant chain in North India

Abstract

The Indian state of Uttaranchal, located in the Himalayan region, is richly endowed with a large variety of medicinal plant species, many of which have medicinal properties. Due to continued collection and increasing demand by Indian and global pharmaceutical industries, numerous medicinal plant species are threatened with extinction. Recent action research by KIT Royal Tropical Institute and the Centre for Sustainable Development shows that the cultivation of medicinal plants could provide an important source of income to the rural population in Uttaranchal, many of whom are small farmers. In spite of considerable government effort, no large-scale cultivation of medicinal plants has yet been undertaken in Uttaranchal. This paper draws lessons from a recently established public–private collaboration for production of a CITES-listed medicinal plant species for the international market. It draws initial lessons regarding the principles and practices that can lead to the formation of a sustainable medicinal plant chain. It focuses on the need for public-sector investment in pro-poor chain development, the role of service providers in chain innovation, and the role of civil-society organizations in public– private partnerships. It also examines the benefits that are likely to accrue to various actors in the chain through the collaboration, and the possible risks involved in excessive dependence on international markets