Cultivated Medicinal Aromatic Plants (MAPs).

India is a global hotspot for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), with over 8,000 species used in traditional, Ayurvedic, and modern medicine. Rich biodiversity exists in the Himalayas, Western/Eastern Ghats, and Aravalli range. Major species include Amla, Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Lemongrass, and Aloe vera, supporting a massive, growing industry.

The Botanical Survey of India has identified over 5,250 plant species and documented over 9,567 folk claims for various ailments. India has been taking strong steps to protect this rich heritage. The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) runs a dedicated scheme for the conservation and sustainable management of medicinal plants. It supports Conservation, IEC activities, farmer training, research & Development and marketing. These efforts reflect India’s strong and unwavering commitment to protecting its rich medicinal plant heritage.

In a survey of companies involved in trade and production of herbal remedies by Rainforest Alliance, some 60 to 90 percent of material sourced was cultivated, with the remaining wild harvested, and when asked about species numbers rather than volume, the figures are generally inverted. For example, of more than 400 plants species used for production of medicine by the Indian herbalindustry, fewer than 20 species are currently under cultivation in different parts of the country,