Medicinal Plants A Viable Option for Family Farming

Abstract

Prof M. S. Swaminathan has said “Providing family farmers with adequate financial and scientific support to ensure food security should be the bottom line of all food and agriculture policies of developing countriesâ€. In this line, cultivation o medicinal plants could be beneficial and involvement of rural people will further add flavor to farming in India so as to make it more economically viable. With all the research references mentioned above, it can be concluded that the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops and inclusion of MAPs as a component in different cropping systems is highly remunerative as it reduces the risk due to pest and diseases, vagaries in climate, utilizes the farm inputs more efficiently for sustainable production without affecting the production of other field or horticultural crops. Besides, cultivation of medicinal plants is a promising livelihood option for many MAP stakeholders besides helping in the conservation of native species.