Dr Sabarinathan

India's Ayush, herbal export grows from Rs.617-cr in 2005-06 to Rs.1335-cr in 2009-10

The Indian Ayush (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) and herbal industry has grown by leaps and bounds during the last few years with the export of these products taking a jump from Rs.617.87 crore in 2005-06 to Rs.1335.01 crore in the year 2009-10. 

According to experts in the field, one of the major reasons for this export growth is the fact that several countries in the world have started looking towards the Indian traditional products for treating various ailments and chronic diseases. They have identified the importance of natural healing with Ayush products on par with the allopathic medicines. According to data available with the DGCIS and Pharmexcil, there has been a significant growth of Ayush and herbal products exports over the past few years. The exports of Ayush products alone have increased to Rs.764.25 crore in the year 2009-10 from Rs.311.57 crore in 2005-06. Dr P V Appaji, executive director, Pharmexcil said, “In just two years, the demand for herbal products from India has increased from Rs.375.60 crore in 2006-07 toRs.594.87 crore in 2008-09. For the next year 2009-10 the demand has slightly slipped due to recession and earned only Rs.570.76 crore which is a decrease of Rs.24.11 crore from the previous year.” Some of the significant herbal and Ayush products according to 2009-10 lists of India’s 30 top exports include medicaments of ayurvedic systems, psyllium husk (isobgul husk), saps and extracts, senna leaves and pads, other plants and parts of plants used in pharmacy, insecticdl/fungicdl purpose. medicants of homoeopathic systems, Lacts and lacts syrup containing 99 per cent or more lacts, Vinca rosea (herbs), Zedovary roots, Cascara sagrada bark, kuth root, sarsaparilla, Tukmaria and Medicants of bio-chemic systems are some of the important exports ayurvedic and homoeopathic items from the country. Among the top 10 destinations of India’s herbal products, USA leads the list. USA has imported herbal products worth Rs.202 crore every year since 2007-08. Pakistan, Japan, Germany, Ireland, UK, Australia, Bangladesh, Viet Nam and Malaysia are the other important importers of herbal products from India with an aggregate income of Rs.367.06 crore for the nation. According to a report from Pharmexcil for the year 2009, Canada tops list of top 10 exporters of medicinal herbs with a gain of US$ 224.73 million. China holds the second place with US$ 193.33 millions and India in the third place with exports gains of US$ 105.91 million. Significant point to be noted is that china is slowly loosing its export ground and has decreased its exports from US$ 344.12 millions in 2005 to US$ 193.33 million in the year 2009, while India and Canada are steadily increasing their export gains from just US$ 38.87 million and US$ 32.65 million in 2005 to US$ 105.91 million and US$ 224.73 million respectively.