Emphasis laid on herbs export for economic prosperity

Pragati Dhakal

Kathmandu, April 12: Nepal is rich in herbs and biodiversity, but substantial efforts are much awaited to utilize indigenous herbs linking it to economic potential.

At a time when the country has aspired for economic prosperity, branding herbs and ensuring quality export as raw materials to the Ayurvedic Hospital and pharmaceutical industries could be another rewarding option, according to experts on plants and entrepreneurs. 

According to Department of Plant Resources, total 819 species of herbs have been identified in the country. Of them, 33 species are prioritized under economic development. Around 120 species of herbs are being cultivated while fragrance oil could be produced from more than 200 species. Herbs worth Rs 2.4 billion was exported in the last fiscal year, according to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre. 

In average, herbs worth Rs 1.24 billion are exported annually. 

Director General of the Department, Sanjeev Kumar Rai, said around 90 percent herbs are exported in raw forms. He underlined that herbs sector could be developed as the strong medium of economic growth through structural strengthening, innovative technology, research and private-public collaboration.  

Similarly, a strong foundation for prosperity could be built if medicines could be produced by processing herbs within country itself, he mentioned.

On the other hand, the Herbs Production and Processing Company Limited has been producing medicines like palmarosa, lemongrass, citronella and mentha. The productions of the company-- 'Sancho', 'Himalayan Massage Oil', 'Shilajit Paste' are available in the market.  

The Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal complained legal hurdles behind adequate production and transportation of herbs. Federation Chairperson Thakur Prasad Bhandari underscored that the herbs sector would have incomparable contribution in economic development if this sector gets grants, facilitation and market management. 

Expert on plant, Nabin Joshi, opined that the country could secure rewarding income through processing and branding of herbs. 

Likewise, President of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Kamalesh Kumar Agrawal, viewed that herbs sector could be developed as the base of industrial production and export, adding country could be made prosperous through herbs export.(RSS)