Andhra loses crores over theft of medicinal plants

The problem, as a senior forest official puts it, is that the department has not done a fullfledged survey on medicinal plants in the state. Though it has made a beginning in recent times, the department is yet to asses the economic viability and cost of various medicinal plants.

“The herbal business is a secret one. Herbs are collected through tribals or local villagers from forests on nominal payment. Then, they are classified with the help of experts. Once sorted out and their medicinal properties identified,extracts are made, distilled and used for pharmocological combinations,” the official said.

Now realising this huge revenue loss, the Research and Development Circle of the AP Forests Department, Rajahmundry, has made feeble attempts to study the medicinal plants available in the state. The Circle in its `Research and Development Vision-2000′ document, agreed that there is lack of complete and reliable information on cultivation practices and information on the economics involved.