Marketing
of medicinal plants of Utror-Gabral
Valleys,
By
Muhammad Hamayun, Mir Ajab
Khan and Shaheen Begum
Address for
Correspondence:
M. Hamayun and Dr. Mir Ajab Khan
Department
of Biological Sciences,
Shaheen
Begum, Assistant Coordinator, Ethno botany Project,
E.mail, M.Hamayun: smh_khan@hotmail.com
This
paper is based on the results of an ethnobotanical
project carried out in the area comprising
A
survey conducted shows that medicinal plants collectors include womenfolk
(48.26%), men folk (27.0%) and children (24.74%). Almost 90% of these medicinal
plants are sold in the local market in fresh form as the collectors are poor
and needy. Some species are cleaned, dried in the sun and stored in plastic
bags. The percentage of losses is much higher in the storage because the
collectors are unaware about the proper storage methods of these plants.
The
availability of medicinal plants decreased during the past 20 years. According
to aged villagers, medicinal plants were abundant in the vicinities of human
settlements some 20 years back. However, the population of medicinal plants
drastically decreased due to increased marketing pressure on medicinal plants,
lack of job opportunities in the area, non sustainable harvesting methods like
digging of whole plant and increased population of the area. The medicinal
plants are now collected in large volumes from remote areas of Desan, Ghos, Ladhu,
Pala-Shair,
Key Words: Medicinal plants; marketing status;
conservation; collection methods
The Utror-Gabral valleys are situated in the north western part
of the District Swat,
Location,
Boundary and Area
The area is
situated in the
The area is
surrounded by Chitral District on the north, Swat
District on east and south and
The total area
is 114627 hectares. Utror, Gabral
(Gul Abad and Gujar Gabral), Sazgal, Behan, Baila, Karin, Kanai and Jabba
(Upper and Lower) are the important villages of research area. (DCO, Office, Mingora)
Climate
The area has a
typical dry temperate zone climate. The winter season is very cold and as a
result large number dwelling in the upper parts migrate to lower areas along
with their live stock. These migrants return on the onset of spring. The
coldest months are December, January and February during which snow falls are
frequent. The valleys remain under snow cover for about four months. The snow
started melting in April. June, July and August are the hottest months of the
year while during September and October, the climate is very pleasant. Rain is
received in large amounts during March and April. The summer and autumn are
relatively dry seasons.
·
Mean annual maximum temperature is 61.9 °F.
·
Mean annual minimum temperature is 39.37 °F.
·
Mean annual snow fall is 331.01 cms.
·
Mean annual rain fall is 52.43 cms.
Rivers
and Streams
Utror river is the main river which meets Ushu
river at Kalam, thus giving rise to Swat river. The
tributaries of Utror river
includes, Gujar khawar, Gabral sin, Desan khawar and Battal khawar.
People
of
The population
of the area is 10126. The inhabitants include Kohistanis,
Gujars, immigrants from Indus Kohistan,
Malazai (from Dir) and other nomadic tribes. However,
Kohistanis and Gujars form
the bulk of the local population.
Kohistanis
Kohistanis are
fair colored, hospitable and simple people. They are
considered to be the real natives of Swat. They were forced by the invading Yousafzai tribe of Pathans to
live in the remote upper parts of District Swat. The Kohistanis
are now living in and around Kalam, Ushu, Utror and Gabral
valleys. The Kohistanis are the land owners and also
get royalty in the local forest income from the Government.
Gujars The Gujars are the major community of Gabral
valley. They are the land owners in the valley but have no share in forest
royalty. They are mainly farmers and keep cows and buffalows.
There are some Gujars who spent nomadic life and are
called Ajars.
They keep herds of sheep and goats. Ajars pay rent to
the Gujars of Gabral for
utilizing their pastures during summer season.
Malazai and others
These are not
permanent residents of Utror and
Languages
The local
languages are Kohistani and Gujro.
However, Pushto is also under stood in the area. Kohistani is an interesting language because it has no
alphabets and hence no body can write it. Gujro
language is actually Punjabi with some what different dialect.
·
Medicinal
Plants
Any plant or
part of the plant which contain active medicinal chemical constituents and give
a definite physiological response in the treatments of diseases in humans and
other animals are called medicinal plant.
In Swat
District more than 224 medicinal plants are reported. Around 55 of these are
collected and sold in the local markets. 17 species i.e. almost 30% are
marketed on national level.
Demand
for Medicinal Plants
The use of
medicinal herbs for various human and livestock health disorders is a common
practice in rural areas of
Objectives
of the Present Study
The main
objective of the study was to evaluate marketing of medicinal plants of the
area, women role in medicinal plants collection, people involve in medicinal
plants trade and folk methods of medicinal plants collection, cleaning and
storage. All these will help in bringing sustainability to the indigenous
medicinal flora of the area.
Materials
and methods
Field work was
carried out during 2002. First collectors of medicinal plants including women
folk was interviewed for indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants collection,
cleaning, drying and storing. Questionnaires were adopted during the surveys in
order to get a more representative data about the medicinal plants marketing in
the area. The medicinal plants markets at Kalam, Madyan, Mingora,
Results
and Discussion
·
Marketing
of Medicinal Plants
In
Table
1: Marketing Medicinal Plants of
No |
Botanical Name |
Local Name |
Part Used |
Availability |
Collection Method |
Plant Status |
L.Pr. (Rs.) |
1 |
Aconitum
hetrophyllum |
SarbaBotay/ Sarb- walay |
Roots |
Dec. |
Digging |
V |
400 |
2 |
Aconitum
violaceum |
Zahar Mora |
Roots |
Dec. |
Digging |
V |
250 |
3 |
Acorus
calamus |
Skhawaja |
Rhiz. |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
20 |
4 |
Adiantum
venestum |
Persoshan |
Plant |
Dec. |
Cutting |
V |
5 |
5 |
Ajuga
bractiosa |
Panarkas/boti |
Shoot |
Pers. |
Plucking |
- |
30 |
6 |
Ammi
visnaga |
Spairkai |
Fruit |
Pers. |
Picking |
- |
40 |
7 |
Artemissia vulgaris |
Tarkha |
R/L |
Inc. |
Digging |
- |
12 |
8 |
Berberis
lycium |
Hez/Toor kwaray |
Roots |
Dec. |
Digging |
V |
25 |
9 |
Berberis
vulgaris |
Hez/Speenkwaray |
Roots |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
25 |
10 |
Bergenia
ciliata |
Qamar Panra |
Lvs |
Pers. |
Plucking |
R |
25 |
11 |
Bistorta
amplexicaulis |
Anjabar |
Rhiz. |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
10 |
12 |
Cuminum
cyminum |
Zankai |
Seeds |
Pers. |
Picking |
R |
60 |
13 |
Calendula
arvensis |
Charkeet |
Roots |
Dec. |
Digging |
- |
23 |
14 |
Caltha
alba |
Makhan pat |
Plant |
Pers. |
Plucking |
- |
4 |
15 |
Cichorium intybus |
Han |
Lvs |
Inc. |
Plucking |
- |
13 |
16 |
Colchicum
luteum |
Suranjan Talkh |
Rhiz. |
Dec. |
Digging |
V |
30 |
17 |
Coriandrum sativum |
Dhanyal |
Fruits |
Inc. |
Picking |
- |
25 |
18 |
Bunium
persicum |
Zankai |
Seeds |
Pers. |
Picking |
V |
80 |
19 |
Dioscoria deltoides |
Kaneez |
Root |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
14 |
20 |
Diospyrus lotus |
Toor amlook |
Fruit |
Pers. |
Picking |
- |
12 |
21 |
Ephedra
intermedia |
|
B/L |
Dec. |
Cutting |
V |
8 |
22 |
Foeniculum vulgare |
Kaga/Alanai |
Fruit |
Pers. |
Picking |
- |
20 |
23 |
Fragaria
indica |
Da Zamakay Toot |
Fruit |
Inc. |
Picking |
- |
7 |
24 |
Geranium
wallichianum |
Srazela/ Rathan jot |
Roots |
Pers. |
Digging |
- |
8 |
25 |
Hedra
nepalensis |
Palul Zelai |
Lvs |
Pers. |
Plucking |
- |
7 |
26 |
Hyoscyamus |
Dewana Bhang |
Seeds |
Dec. |
Picking |
- |
30 |
27 |
Hypericum perforatum |
Shana Chai |
Shoot |
Pers. |
Plucking |
- |
9 |
28 |
Juglans regia |
Ghuz |
Fruit |
Inc. |
Picking |
- |
30 |
29 |
Mentha
spicata |
Podina |
Lvs |
Inc. |
Plucking |
- |
8 |
30 |
Mentha
sylvestris |
Valanay |
Plant |
Pers. |
Plucking |
R |
8 |
31 |
Morchella esculenta |
Kasee/Gujai |
Plant |
Dec. |
Picking |
R |
800 |
32 |
Origanum
vulgare |
Shamakai |
Roots |
Pers. |
Digging |
- |
7 |
33 |
Paeonia
emodi |
Mamekh |
Rhiz. |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
8 |
34 |
Peganum
harmala |
Spailanay |
Seeds |
Inc. |
Picking |
- |
6 |
35 |
Pistacia
integrimma |
Shanai |
Pod |
Dec. |
Picking |
V |
35 |
36 |
Plantago
lanceolatum |
Spaighol |
Seeds |
Pers. |
Picking |
R |
40 |
37 |
Podophyllum hexandrum |
Kakora |
Rhiz. |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
10 |
38 |
Polygonatum verticilatum |
Peramole |
Rhiz. |
Dec |
Digging |
E |
25 |
39 |
Rheum
australe |
Chotyal |
R/R. |
Dec. |
Digging |
R |
10 |
40 |
Skimmia
laureola |
Nazar panra |
Lvs |
Pers. |
Plucking |
R |
12 |
41 |
Thymus
linearis |
Spairkai |
Seeds |
Dec. |
Picking |
R |
25 |
42 |
Valeriana jatamansi |
Muske Bala |
Rhiz. |
Dec. |
Digging |
E |
10 |
43 |
Viola
canescens |
Banafsha |
Lvs/f |
Pers. |
Plucking |
- |
16 |
44 |
Viola
biflora |
Banafsha |
Lvs/f |
Pers. |
Plucking |
- |
16 |
Abbreviations
Part
used: Lvs and L stands for leaves, Rhiz and R For rhizome, B for bark and R for roots.
Availability:
Dec. stands for decreased, Pers. for persistent, Inc.
for increased.
Plant
Status: E stands for endangered, V for vulnerable, R for rare.
Medicinal
plants are sold in the local markets of Kalam, Madyan and Mingora. Out of 44
species collected, 13 species are exported to International markets while the
remaining medicinal plants are used in Swat and other parts of the country. In
table 2, medicinal plants traded from Swat are given. Considerable proportions
of these come from
Table
2: List of plants traded to National and International markets from Swat.
S. No |
Botanical
Name |
Local/Common
Name |
Exported To |
Quantity (Kg) |
1 |
Acorus calamus |
Aorch |
National Use |
2,80,000 |
2 |
Adiantum incisum |
Parshoshan |
|
80,000 |
3 |
Adiantum capillus-veneris |
Parshoshan |
|
80,000 |
4 |
Bergenia ciliata |
Qamar Panra |
|
120,000 |
5 |
Colchicum luteum |
Soranjan talakh |
|
80,000 |
6 |
Dioscoria
deltoids |
Kaneez |
|
19,20,000 |
7 |
Diospyrus
lotus |
Tor Amlok |
National use |
96,00,000 |
8 |
Morchalla esculenta |
Guchi |
|
400,000 |
9 |
Myrtus communis |
Maroon |
National use |
400,000 |
10 |
Paeonia emodi |
Mamekh |
|
600,000 |
11 |
Pistacia integrimma |
Shanai |
|
40,000 |
12 |
Podophyllun hexandrum |
Kakora |
|
40,00,000 |
13 |
Bistorta amplexicaulis |
Anjabar |
|
640,000 |
14 |
Valeriana wallachii |
Mushk Bala |
|
280,000 |
15 |
Viola betonicifolia |
Banafsha |
|
400,000 |
16 |
Viola serpens |
Banafsha |
|
400,000 |
·
Plant
Collectors, Collection and Storage
Medicinal plant
collectors are usually poor villagers. Plant collection is there part time
activity besides farming and live stock keeping. The collectors include 48.74%
womenfolk, 27.0% men folk and 24.26% children. They collect medicinal plants
during spring and summer season which starts from April to September and sell
it in the local market to fetch some money. One can see a person coming from a
hilltop with a bundle of fuel wood of his head and a bag of medicinal plants in
his hands. He handover his bag of medicinal plants to local Pansaris
and put in his pocket whatever money he gets. According to Choudhary
et al. (2000) about 500 families are involved in medicinal plant collection in
Swat District and they collect 5000 tons of medicinal plants annually. The availability
of medicinal plant in the area decreased in the last twenty years. However, in
the last six years pressure on medicinal plants for collection is relaxed due
to an increased cultivation of potato and beans in the area. The Utroris also have stopped the Gujars
from entering the forest as they claim the ownership of the local forests.
Bulk of
medicinal plants collected in the area is rhizomatous. The collectors carry
with them digging tools and dig medicinal plant wherever found. The plants are
sold in local markets while some of them are kept in homes for curing different
ailments. In fig.1 chain of people involved and fig.2 chain of medicinal plants
marketing is given. Major proportions of plants collected are sold in fresh
while some plants are stored in bags and sacks from one week to one year. Before
storing, these plants are washed and kept under the sun for drying. During storage
considerable amounts of medicinal plants are wasted due to humidity, insect
attacks, inappropriate storage facilities and lack of awareness on the part of
collectors.
Figure
1: Chain of people involved in the medicinal plant trade in
Women
Knowledge of Medicinal Plants
Women folk of
the area provide the most valuable source of indigenous knowledge of medicinal
plants. Women work in the fields along with their men. They also collect fuel
wood from the forest. They also collect medicinal plants. Some of these
collected are kept in home and used for their own needs, while rest of
medicinal plants collected are sold in the local market to earn some money.
Figure
2: Marketing chain for medicinal plants collected in
Recommendations
·
Local community should be trained regarding
methods of collection and drying, identification and sustainable harvesting.
·
Plant collectors should be encouraged and
educated in order increase their bargaining power, thus increasing their
revenues from medicinal plants.
·
The locals should be educated about the
importance of medicinal plants to their socio economic conditions and eco
system.
·
There should be more coordination and
cooperation among various agencies such as govt. departments and pharmaceutical
firms pertinent to the utilization and regeneration of selected medicinal
plants.
·
Traditional medicines manufacturers and
scientists should be encouraged to carry out research into the cultivation of
medicinal plants.
·
Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants
should be encouraged in order to relieve pressure on these plants.
·
Direct links between collectors and consumers
should be established to secure higher level prices.
References
Anonymous,
1989. Report on Master Plan Study on Swat District
Integrated Rural Development Project. Japan International
Cooperation Agency.
Anonymous,
1998. District Census Report on
Swat. PCO, Govt. of
Anonymous,
2000. Report on Utror Union
Council. DCO, Office, Mingora, Swat.
Balala,
A.Q. 2000. The charming Swat. Maqsood
Publishers,
Chaudhary, M.
S. Ahmad, A.Ali, H.Sher and
S.Malik. 2000.
Technical Report on Market study of medicinal herbs in Malakand,
Haq,
Khan,
A. 2001. M.Phil thesis on Ethno botanical potential, Phytosociology
and Conservation status of
Khan,
A. A. 1985. Survey of crude drug markets
in
Lintu, L. 1995. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Unalsylva,
46 (183): 37-41.
Shinwari, Z.
K., A. A. Khan and T. Nakaike.
2003. Book on Medicinal and other useful plants of District Swat,
Williams,
J. T. and Z. Ahmad. 1999. Priorities for medicinal plant
research and development in
SIUC
/ Ethnobotanical Leaflets
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Updated: 26 July 2003 D.U.