Medicinal and Aromatic plants are used in a variety of industries like pharmaceutical industry, health care items, cosmetics, and organic food items. It is essential to notice that 40% of the new medicines are derived from natural sources. The overall world trade in medicinal plants is around $32 billion, while the Asian trade is only around $14 billion. The leading two countries in medicinal plant trade in Asia are China and India as of now respectively.
Hence, it is noted that it could be very beneficial if Pakistan further taps in to this market. While, there are a number of hurdles such as there are often lower prices, unavailability of transit markets, poor cultivation technologies, and a lack of resources (cultivation material, genetic materials etc.) to initiate the process. However, there are several landscapes in Pakistan that can support this industry with some government help.
To show the economic gains from medicinal and aromatic plants, the statistics from Turkey are taken.
Table 1: Medicinal and aromatic plants exports and imports of Turkey in 2018
|
Product |
Exports |
Imports |
||
|
Amount (kg) |
Value (US $) |
Amount (kg) |
Value (US $) |
|
|
Oregano |
16,212,000 |
52,331,000 |
1,787,584 |
4,750,033 |
|
Laurel Leaf |
13,253,940 |
36,716,616 |
989,611 |
1,523,208 |
|
Cumin |
6,455,169 |
19,500,621 |
1,003,631 |
3,290,609 |
|
Anis seed |
2,418,735 |
9,637,809 |
3,612,533 |
6,589,114 |
|
Sage |
1,824,818 |
6,695,586 |
743,980 |
1,620,684 |
|
Sumac |
2,108,382 |
4,491,056 |
461,260 |
113,673 |
|
Licorice |
1,069,961 |
3,102,837 |
1,102,153 |
1,985,376 |
|
Spice Mix |
300,476 |
2,006,843 |
3,374 |
45,123 |
|
Mahaleb |
123,283 |
1,242,394 |
19,903’ |
92,954 |
|
Spearmint |
620,292 |
1,876,792 |
87,241 |
133,100 |
|
Rosemary |
493,389 |
1,477,264 |
619,752 |
839,080 |
|
Black Cumin |
404,691 |
983,074 |
3,678,628 |
7,312,482 |
|
Carob |
2,421,351 |
18,433,777 |
2,462,071 |
4,166,059 |
|
Linden |
116,741 |
1,521,480 |
25,151 |
54,442 |
|
Turmeric |
45,704 |
201,441 |
979,376 |
1,096,073 |
|
Cinnamon |
38,505 |
234,165 |
873,560 |
1,542,843 |
|
Coriander |
142,351 |
187,920 |
522,207 |
275,604 |
|
Clove |
5,555 |
99,894 |
279,113 |
482,837 |
|
Thyme |
48,547 |
1,287,456 |
6,276 |
6,826 |
|
Saffron |
4,602 |
89,848 |
91 |
20,187 |
|
Ginger |
26,368 |
116,984 |
2,990,512 |
3,295,411 |
|
Curry |
24,723 |
78,260 |
– |
– |
|
Fenugreek |
168,004 |
298,736 |
340 |
1,322 |
|
Cardamom |
3,368 |
54,872 |
204,675 |
871,164 |
|
Nutmeg |
10,125 |
55,425 |
45,820 |
58,087 |
|
Poppy seed |
25,286,661 |
73,736,971 |
45,950 |
125,069 |
|
Morphine |
25,647 |
8,434,688 |
2 |
368 |
|
Tea |
3,321,866 |
12,035,946 |
15,635,054 |
38,911,087 |
|
Other Spices |
2,985,503 |
8,233,055 |
69,633 |
34,799 |
|
Total |
79,960,757 |
265,162,810 |
38,249,481 |
79,237,614 |
Moreover, statistics from Turkey’s natural oil exports are also included for a better understanding.
Table 2: Essential oil exports and imports of Turkey in 2018
|
Product |
Exports |
Imports |
||
|
Amount (kg) |
Value (US $) |
Amount (kg) |
Value (US $) |
|
|
Oregano oil |
65,000 |
5,501,000 |
1,790 |
4,864,492 |
|
Spearmint oil |
16,000 |
168,895 |
11,985 |
339,135 |
|
Rosemary oil |
55 |
5,723 |
1,262 |
63,613 |
|
Lavandula oil |
3,851 |
129,354 |
5,062 |
289,972 |
|
Rose oil |
16,369 |
14,136,625 |
5,954 |
233,717 |
|
Lemon oil |
3,121 |
131,230 |
380 |
1,996,689 |
|
Pepermint oil |
1,212 |
44,566 |
243,607 |
3,189,027 |
|
Other citrus oil |
4,822 |
113,459 |
64,406 |
2,239,109 |
|
Maceration |
280,547 |
6,615,909 |
55,676 |
1,996,950 |
|
Hydrosol |
364,240 |
1,921,192 |
31,833 |
2,268,460 |
|
Other essential oil |
57,922 |
13,754,416 |
130,785 |
8,941,328 |
|
Total |
813,139 |
42,522,369 |
552,740 |
26,422,492 |
Hence, at a governmental level and at an individual level, medicinal and aromatic plants have a great potential for export and GDP of Pakistan. Rural areas in Pakistan could particularly benefit from this as there is a growing need for these plants and with government help, infrastructure could be built to support this venture.