Value Chains Promotion and Development in the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Sector with Emphasis on Improvement of Sausurea Costus (kuth) and Picrorhiza Kurrooa (kutki) Value Chains in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand

The present paper is based on the survey, analysis, field work and findings by the author as Senior Technical Expert and lead member of the team worked with the German Technical Cooperation - Uttarakhand Regional Economic Development Programme (GTZRED) on Value Chains (VC) promotion and development in the medicinal and aromatic plant sector in Uttarakhand. Besides analysis of promising sectors for selection, promotion and development of value chains, the ground work for the programme started with lot of consultations with experts from various institutions in government, civil societies, industries, private and public sector organizations within and outside the State. Through the long process of discussion and consultations also with the local communities finally the process of identification and prioritization of four value chains were completed based on the criteria as prescribed in the Value Link Manual (GTZ, 2007). The value chains on medicinal and aromatic plants from the hills of Uttarakhand were the first which was selected for promotion and development. Initially the two species Picrorhiza kurrooa (Kutki)and Sausurea costus (Kuth) were identified for Value Chains improvement and development. The initial work for these two species started with visits to selected VC areas. Stakeholders' meeting was organized with the farmers / growers of the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in these areas. Subsequently visioning workshops for the two VCs were conducted in the areas to priorities the strategy, actions and vision for improvement and development of the two value chains based on the findings of SWOT analysis. To realize the vision, stakeholders workshop was organized at Herbal Research and Development Institute, Mandal , Gopeshwar and finally Operational Plans for the two Value Chains were developed in the two days long proceedings of the workshop. During the workshop, partner organizations were also identified for implementation of the activities prioritized in the Operational Plans. In order to develop market linkages with the traders or pharmaceutical industries for sale of the products and ensure guaranteed market access to the farmers in Uttarakhand, a buyer sellers meet was organized for the first time in the State creating better income and profit opportunities and business environment. The meet has not only been successful in sale of the crops of Kuth and Kutki but also opened up avenues for establishing a long-term deal or buy back agreements for the two Value Chains between the growers and the buyers in future.