The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rich herbal tradition, poor trade share

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rich herbal tradition, poor trade share

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, NOV. 19. There is a resurgence of interest in the use of herbal products, and efforts to popularise authentic herbal products will be a big help to the sector, M.F. Farooqui, Special Commissioner, Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, said today.

Inaugurating the International Healthcare Herbal Products Expo 2004 at the Chennai Trade Centre, he said India has a rich tradition of medicinal systems but the country's share in the international trade of herbal products was poor. "Quality is the most critical input in this area," he said, while stressing the need for quality in manufacturing and marketing herbal products.

Syed Zakir Ahmed, managing director, Zak Trade Fairs and Exhibitions, said this was the second exhibition on healthcare and herbal products. Many small-scale entrepreneurs have put up stalls. Experts in herbal medicine will be lecturing at seminar sessions during the exhibition, which is on till Sunday.

R. Subramanian, project head-Herbal, said traditional Indian medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani were derived from century-old practices and were still valuable in treating various ailments.

"India expects a steep rise in export of trading practices and drugs in view of the World Trade Organisation agreement implemented from January 2005," he said. The three best stalls will be given prizes.

The pavilions have displays on healthcare, herbal drugs, herbal cosmetics, infrastructure, spices, veterinary herbals, display of products and profiles of companies, State and Central Government stalls and launch of new products. Admission is free.

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