ABSTRACT
Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252,
Nadia, West Bengal, India
Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan
Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252, Nadia, West Bengal,
India
11.1 Introduction .................................................................................................402 11.2 Key Points in Medicinal Plant Farming and Trade .....................................406 11.3 Quality Control ...........................................................................................407 11.4 Harvesting and Yield ...................................................................................412 Keywords ..............................................................................................................439 References ............................................................................................................440
In recent decades there has been a gradual global rise in demand for herbal medicines and healthcare products. However, the quality systems and validation procedures governing the sector are not commensurate with such growth. The issues concerning quality, efficacy, and safety vis-a vis “minimum therapeutic guarantee” must be addressed in an ingenuous way as the very purpose of any healthcare product is centered on an ethical assurance to the end-user. But poor quality produce are marketed due to inefficient postharvest handling, the demand-supply disparity and other technical flaws. Since ancient times, the physician or the traditional healer used to manage the whole supply chain, right from collection of herbs up to preparation and dispensing of the medicine which is now a multistake holders activity. The consequence gave rise to a grave situation by means of over-exploitation, habitat loss, threat to plant species and even extinction of some valuable species.
