The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Usher in herbal revolution for ryots' benefit, says Speaker

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Usher in herbal revolution for ryots' benefit, says Speaker

Staff Reporter

Researchers told to set up demo farms

HYDEABAD: The Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, observed here on Saturday that herbal revolution if ushered in could be a boon to farmers, as the country has immense potential for growth in the sector.

Inaugurating a national seminar on `Herbal industry' organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he called for combined efforts by scientists, researchers and farmers to make herbal revolution a reality.

They should visit rural areas and encourage ryots by putting up herbal demo farms.

Mr. Reddy said if herbal industries were set up not only would they lead to growth of entrepreneurship but also provide employment opportunities.

More money for farmers

More importantly, they would yield more money per acre for farmers, in these days of crisis-ridden agriculture sector. Hopefully, there would not be any suicides, he said.

O.P. Goenka, president, FAPCCI, said India's share of the global herbal market of $ 62 billion was only $ 1 billion.

The country ranked third in volume and second in value of the world trade in aromatic oils.

Its exports in aromatic oils, herbal products and fragrances were worth Rs.165 crores, Rs.4,860 crores and Rs.5,000 crores respectively.

S.P.S. Khanuja, the director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and Manoranjan Bhanja, former CEO, Andhra Pradesh State Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board, spoke.

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