The entire North East has a vast reserve of medicinal plants, and a rich culture of folk medicine. Out of a total of over 3200 varieties of medicinal plants in the country, around 800 species are found within the North East region.
Growing popularity of Ayurvedic medicine in recent years have increased the demand for natural herbal medicinal products manifold within the country. However, only professional farmers from the states like Uttaranchal, U.P., Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh have been able to take advantage of the market. But in absence of commercial farming in NE, the farmers could not avail this new found opportunity.
The following medicinal plants are suitable for NE Region:
Acoruscalamus, Atemisiaannua, Asparagasracemosus, Neem, Brahmi, coleus forskholi, Curcuma longa, curcuma Zadoria, Amlakhi, Tulsi, Picorhizakurroa, piper nigrum, RauwolfiaSerpentina, TaxusBaccata etc.
The major potential Aromatic/essential oil bearing crops suitable for NE region are:
Java Citronella, Lemon Grass, Pepper Mint(MenthaPiperita), Pyrethrum, Rosa Damascena, Palmarosa, Vetivar, Patchouli, Geranium etc.
‘Stevia Rebaudiana’ or MouTulshi which is a natural sugar substitute & also calorie free. There appears to be tremendous opportunity for promotion of this wonder plant in the hilly NE region for its large scale plantation.