Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
Aliakbar Barati; Ali Asadi; Hengameh Sardar Shahraki; Parya Siahbidi
Abstract
Background and objectives: Due to the scorching desert environment and frequent severe droughts, residents of the rural districts of Zabol County have suffered significant losses to their livelihoods in recent years. As a result, identifying climate-resilient income sources and strategies to improve ...
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Background and objectives: Due to the scorching desert environment and frequent severe droughts, residents of the rural districts of Zabol County have suffered significant losses to their livelihoods in recent years. As a result, identifying climate-resilient income sources and strategies to improve the county's economic prospects has become crucial. The cultivation of medicinal plants, with their extensive value chain, income-generating potential, and resilience to environmental challenges, stands out as a highly promising livelihood option. It can play a pivotal role in creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty in rural areas. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of cultivating selected medicinal plants in the rural areas of Zabol County.Methodology: The statistical population consisted of 25 specialists, including researchers from the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, staff from the Agricultural Jihad Organization in Zabol County, and medicinal plant experts from the private sector. Participants were selected purposefully. Data were collected through interviews and a researcher-designed questionnaire. The data analysis was conducted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Medicinal plants were selected based on a literature review and expert interviews. Ten species were identified as having the most extensive history of cultivation in the study area: Cuminum cyminum, Nigella sativa, Plantago psyllium, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Trachyspermum ammi, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Linum usitatissimum, Matricaria chamomilla, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, and Rosa damascena.Results: The average age of the experts surveyed was approximately 55 years, with a standard deviation of 10.9 years. Most of the participants held bachelor's or master's degrees in fields related to agriculture. Their average work experience in the agricultural sector was about 15 years, with a standard deviation of 8.6 years. All respondents had prior experience in medicinal plant activities, including production, research, or trade. According to the experts, the most important criteria for selecting medicinal plants for cultivation were: economic factors, technical and climatic features, infrastructural and technological aspects, policy and management, and knowledge and attitudes. Based on these criteria, Rosa damascena (3.32), Hibiscus sabdariffa (3.12), and Cuminum cyminum (3.05) were identified as the top three priority species for cultivation in Zabol County. The findings further revealed that among the various sub-criteria affecting the development of medicinal plant cultivation, the most critical were technical aspects and climatic conditions, infrastructure, and appropriate technology. Additionally, the sub-criteria of compatibility with the regional climate, marketability, and ease of harvesting, processing, and storage were identified as the top three factors requiring special attention.Conclusion: Climate change and its adverse effects, combined with limited economic opportunities in rural areas, pose significant challenges to the livelihoods of villagers. One strategy to address these issues is to identify income sources that are compatible with both the climatic conditions and the economic potential of rural communities. Expanding the cultivation of medicinal plants, given their high income-generating potential and notable adaptability to environmental stresses, can be an effective approach to creating employment opportunities, increasing income, reducing poverty, and preventing rural migration. However, not all medicinal plants are equally suitable for cultivation in every region. It is therefore essential to evaluate these species based on a range of characteristics before recommending them for cultivation, to ensure the success and long-term sustainability of their development.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
Nezam Khaledian; Hossein Shabanali Fami; Aliakbar Barati; Samira Afshari
Abstract
Background and Objective: In recent years, the collection of medicinal plants from rangelands in the Saral region of Divandarreh County, Kurdistan Province, has become an increasingly important livelihood strategy for rural communities. Although this activity contributes to household ...
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Background and Objective: In recent years, the collection of medicinal plants from rangelands in the Saral region of Divandarreh County, Kurdistan Province, has become an increasingly important livelihood strategy for rural communities. Although this activity contributes to household income, there remains a limited and often unclear understanding of its actual impact on the livelihoods of beneficiary households, as well as the challenges they encounter. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to assess the extent of the activity’s impact on rural livelihoods and to identify the key challenges associated with medicinal plant collection in the region, to propose appropriate strategies for sustainable development in this sector.Methodology: This research employed a survey-based approach, with the statistical population comprising all rural households in the Saral region of Divandarreh County, totaling 2,519 households. Using Cochran's formula, a sample of 206 household heads was selected through stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. Data was collected from these beneficiaries using structured questionnaires. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through expert review, while its reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Coefficients exceeding the 0.70 threshold indicated that the measurement tools used for the study variables were sufficiently reliable. Descriptive data analysis was conducted using mean values and the coefficient of variation.Results: Descriptive statistical findings showed that 70% of the beneficiaries had an average age of 35 years, and their average experience in harvesting medicinal plants from rangelands was 4.65 years. The most common sales method was cash transactions with intermediaries, accounting for 43.5% of the total sales. In terms of harvest frequency, the top three medicinal plants collected were Ferula spp. (Kama), Thymus spp. (Avishan), and Mentha pulegium (Pooneh), while Achillea millefolium (Gole Maraneh), Hypericum perforatum (Alaf Chy) and Salvia officinalis (Maryam Gloe) were among the least harvested. Regarding income-generating potential (measured in thousand rials per liter or kilogram of product), Descurainia Sophia (1,097.60), Thymus spp. (794.89), and Mentha pulegium (506.99) had the highest average values, whereas Cichorium intybus (240.93), Achillea millefolium (214.19), and Salvia officinalis (117.53) had the lowest. The prioritization of challenges related to medicinal plant collection in the Saral region identified the following as the most pressing issues: (1) economic and livelihood pressures leading to overharvesting, (2) the risk of extinction of certain medicinal plant species due to excessive harvesting, and (3) reliance on local community motivation to prevent harvesting by non-local individuals. Moreover, beneficiaries' prioritization of strategies to enhance rural livelihoods, through sustainable medicinal plant collection, highlighted three key approaches: (1) developing grassroots organizations such as cooperatives and NGOs; (2) expanding public education on the importance of conserving natural resources as national and communal assets during collection; and (3) delegating oversight of medicinal plant collection to local communities to enable structured and limited resource management.Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the springtime collection of medicinal plants in the Saral region has a limited positive impact on household livelihoods. The absence of proper training and awareness regarding sustainable harvesting methods, combined with the issue of overharvesting, has resulted in negative consequences that outweigh the potential benefits. The analysis of livelihood improvement strategies revealed that the most critical approaches include the development of cooperatives and NGOs, the expansion of public education focused on protecting natural resources, and the delegation of oversight for medicinal plant collection to local communities. These strategies are essential for enhancing the sustainability of medicinal plant harvesting and improving rural livelihoods in the region.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
Fatemeh Nourkami; Dariush Khademi Shurmasti
Abstract
Background and objectives: Garlic (Allium sativum L.) exhibits strong antimicrobial activity, primarily due to its organic sulfur compounds such as thiosulfates, especially allicin. Given the environmental concerns and potential health risks associated with synthetic additives, there is growing interest ...
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Background and objectives: Garlic (Allium sativum L.) exhibits strong antimicrobial activity, primarily due to its organic sulfur compounds such as thiosulfates, especially allicin. Given the environmental concerns and potential health risks associated with synthetic additives, there is growing interest in developing active, biodegradable packaging materials incorporating herbal essential oils and plant extracts. This study aimed to fabricate and assess the mechanical, physical, and antimicrobial properties of an active composite film made from polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, and nanoclay, incorporating 2% and 4% garlic extract, for potential application in food packaging.Methodology: First, separate solutions were prepared by dissolving polyvinyl alcohol (5%), chitosan (2%), and nanoclay (4%) in appropriate solvents, along with an aqueous extract of garlic. Film fabrication was carried out using the casting method, based on five experimental treatments: (1) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) alone, (2) PVA/chitosan, (3) PVA/chitosan/nanoclay, and (4–5) PVA/chitosan/nanoclay films containing 2% and 4% garlic extract (montmorillonite-based). The mechanical properties of the films, including tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EB), and Young’s modulus (YM), were measured using a texture analyzer. Physical properties such as film thickness were assessed with a digital micrometer, while solubility (WS), water absorption capacity (WAC), and water vapor permeability (WVP) were evaluated using ASTM standard methods. Opacity was measured via spectrophotometry. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was assessed using the disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. The diameter of the inhibition zones was recorded as an indicator of antimicrobial efficacy. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and three replications using one-way ANOVA in SPSS software, and treatment means were compared using Duncan’s test at a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: The structural components of the films and the garlic extract concentration significantly influenced the mechanical, physical, and antimicrobial properties. The active triple composite films containing garlic extract exhibited higher tensile strength and Young’s modulus (approximately 30 MPa and 0.14 MPa, respectively) while demonstrating the lowest elongation at break. The incorporation of chitosan and nanoclay into the polyvinyl alcohol matrix increased film thickness, with triple composite films showing greater thickness (0.17 mm) and opacity. These films also exhibited the lowest values of water absorption, solubility, and water vapor permeability. Unlike most mechanical and physical properties, the antimicrobial effectiveness of the films was directly dependent on garlic extract concentration. In general, the garlic extract showed stronger antibacterial effects against gram-positive S. aureus than gram-negative E. coli. In films containing 2% and 4% garlic extract, the inhibition zones for S. aureus measured 21.6 mm and 26.55 mm, respectively, and for E. coli, 16.5 mm and 19.1 mm, respectively.Conclusion: The active triple composite film (polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/montmorillonite) containing 4% garlic extract demonstrated the lowest WVP and higher values for TS, YM, and thickness. These characteristics enable the film to minimize moisture transfer, preserve the structural integrity of packaged food, and delay spoilage, thereby extending shelf life. Hence, enriching biodegradable triple composite films with garlic extract presents a promising approach for developing innovative food packaging materials with extended storage capabilities.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
R. Erfanzadeh; S. H. Hosseini; N. Yusefi
Abstract
Background and objectives: The Chamestan region, located in Mazandaran province, boasts unique ecological and cultural diversity. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate and document the ethnopharmacological knowledge of medicinal plants in the Chamestan area. No previous ethnobotanical ...
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Background and objectives: The Chamestan region, located in Mazandaran province, boasts unique ecological and cultural diversity. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate and document the ethnopharmacological knowledge of medicinal plants in the Chamestan area. No previous ethnobotanical reports have been recorded in this region, making the identification and introduction of medicinal plants crucial for improving healthcare and treatment conditions in the area. This research can contribute significantly to the local community's well-being and medical practices.
Methodology: Ethnopharmacological information about medicinal plants in this region was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire in 1402 (solar Hijri calendar). Chamestan is situated on the outskirts of the northern natural forests. The city was divided into urban and rural sections, and samples were selected from the area with local guides. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, group discussions, and field walks. A total of 24 participants (13 men and 11 women) took part in the study, with 20 randomly selected and 4 purposively chosen as key informants. Demographic characteristics such as education level, gender, and age group were recorded. This research aimed to access indigenous knowledge and traditional applications for identifying medicinal plant specimens. To achieve this, information was gathered from local inhabitants, herbalists, and individuals knowledgeable about traditional medicine and medicinal plants through interviews. For quantitatively analyzing ethnobotanical data of medicinal plants, a software tool (MS Excel 2021) was used to classify and employ descriptive statistical patterns, including relative frequency of quotations, usage value, and informant consensus factor. This study aimed to enrich the understanding of native knowledge and traditional uses of medicinal plants. By documenting this knowledge, the research aimed to contribute to the identification and potential applications of medicinal plant resources. This could significantly benefit the Chamestan community's healthcare and well-being.
Results: In this study, medicinal plants collected belonged to 21 families, with the families Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and Brassicaceae being the most abundant with 28.6%, 19.19%, 19.19%, 14.3%, and 9.5% respectively. The most relative frequency of quotation (RFC) was observed for Thyme, Borage, Nettle, and Tarragon, in descending order. Regarding the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC), the largest level of agreement among informants about gastrointestinal, neurological, and renal diseases. The aerial parts (leaves and flowers) were the most commonly used plant parts, constituting 30% and 13% of the remedies, respectively, while the least used parts were the roots and skin, accounting for 3%. According to the findings, the plants with the highest RFC were Thymus serpyllum and Urtica dioica. The highest consensus of knowledge was found among informants regarding gastrointestinal, neurological, and renal conditions, with IFC values of 0.6, 0.5, and 0.3 respectively. The most consumed species were Thymus serpyllum, Echium amoenum, Urtica dioica, and Mentha mozaffariani. The Lamiaceae family, represented by Thymus serpyllum and Mentha mozaffariani, exhibited positive effects on gastrointestinal issues. In addition to medicinal uses, the Chamestan people consume numerous plants as raw vegetables or in combination with rice, making their diet rich in valuable constituents. Other plants used include Mentha pulegium, Allium ampeloprasum, Ficaria fascicularis, Allium ursinum, Rumex elbursensis, and Amaranthus retroflexus.
Conclusion: Due to the rich diversity of medicinal plants and the close relationship of indigenous people with nature, extensive use of herbal remedies and meeting life's needs was expected in this region. However, the complete transfer of knowledge between generations has not occurred, possibly due to changes in people's lifestyles and urbanization. Considering the abundant flora and local indigenous knowledge, supportive measures are recommended for identifying, preserving, and increasing the number of valuable medicinal plant species. Collecting and documenting this region's knowledge, especially from elderly individuals, is crucial.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
Behnaz Attaeian; Sohrab Moradi; Kamran Shayesteh; Soheila Mousa
Abstract
Background and objectives: Forest and rangeland by-products, particularly medicinal plants, can contribute to sustainable development and increase economic opportunities for local communities. Medicinal plants play a significant role in society's health and disease treatment. ...
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Background and objectives: Forest and rangeland by-products, particularly medicinal plants, can contribute to sustainable development and increase economic opportunities for local communities. Medicinal plants play a significant role in society's health and disease treatment. Negligence to the preservation of medicinal heritage reserves in the field of natural resources will lead to disastrous consequences in the country's natural resources sector. Among these consequences are the rapid extinction of species and severe genetic erosion. Therefore, this study targets protection value and people's willingness to pay for medicinal plant protection and restoration.Methodology: The Salas Babajani region in Kermanshah province was chosen for this research. The vegetation in this area is mainly wooded, and most of the area is covered by dense forests. Due to its diverse topography, the Salas Babajani region has a variety of forest habitats and rangeland and forest medicinal plants. Asafoetida, Thyme, Hawthorn, Wormwood, Eremurus, Dog rose, Chamomile, Sweet violet, Oak, Ferulago, Common Thistle, Horsemint, licorice, etc., are among the medicinal plants of this region. Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was used to estimate medicinal plants' non-use (protective) values in this study. Also, a Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice questionnaire was used to measure people's willingness to pay for medicinal plant protection in the region. The questionnaire was designed in two parts: socio-economic characteristics of people (age, gender, level of education, occupation, number of family members, income, and other characteristics of the respondents) and questions related to the willingness to pay of the respondents. Sampling was done by simple random sampling among residents of the Salas Babajani region in 2016. Cochran's formula from 353 questionnaires determined the number of samples. The logit model was used to measure people's willingness to pay, and the parameters were estimated based on the maximum likelihood method.Results: The results showed that 64% of the interviewees were men and 36% were women. The average age of the respondents is 27.88 years, the average household size is 4.46, and their minimum and maximum household sizes are one person and ten people, respectively. The results also showed that more than 76% of people (269 samples) are willing to pay an amount to protect and restore medicinal plants. The average willingness of each person to pay annually for the protection and restoration of medicinal plants is equal to 5269 Tomans (according to the average household size (4.46 people) equal to 23500 Tomans for each household per year). The variables of household size and the suggested price have a significant negative effect with 95% confidence. The variables of income, gender, level of education, supporting the protection of natural resources (interest in the environment), and knowledge of the protection of medicinal plants and its relationship with sustainable development (knowledge and awareness of environmental protection) are among the most important positive influencing factors with 95% confidence on people's willingness to pay for the protection of medicinal plants. The variables of age, marital status, occupation, membership in environmental organizations, and environmental attitudes and tendencies did not affect the acceptance of the suggested price for medicinal plants conservation value. The Likelihood Ratio statistic (280.39) shows that the changes explained by the logit model are significant at a level higher than one percent. The estimated model's correct prediction percentage is also 75%. Since the percentage of correct prediction for the logit model is equal to 70%, the percentage of correct prediction obtained in this model seems favorable. Therefore, this model is reliable for further analysis. McFadden's coefficient of determination also shows that the model's explanatory variables explain well (about 0.87) the changes in the dependent variable.Conclusion: In terms of management, this study achieved promising results because it shows that the people of society are aware of the importance of protecting medicinal plants, and there is a desire to pay significantly for the protection and restoration of these valuable resources. Therefore, it is suggested that the government pay more attention to public participation to protect, revive, and develop medicinal plants in the forest areas of the study area.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
S. J. Seyedaghlaghi; M. Yousefian; Sh. Hajjehforosh; D. Darvishi; D. Ghorbanian; B. Fani; N. Alizadeh Balochi; M.R. Shirzadi; S.N. Seyyed akhlaghi
Abstract
Background and objectives: According to the law on the protection and exploitation of forests and pastures, any exploitation of natural resources by individuals or legal persons must be done with the approval and permission of the country's natural resources and watershed management organization. Issuing ...
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Background and objectives: According to the law on the protection and exploitation of forests and pastures, any exploitation of natural resources by individuals or legal persons must be done with the approval and permission of the country's natural resources and watershed management organization. Issuing a license to exploit medicinal plants is one of the most critical natural resource licenses. It has an implementation process. The evidence shows that there are various issues with issuing this license. It is necessary to conduct a scientific investigation to improve and correct the mentioned process. The upcoming research analyzes the licensing process for medicinal plants in the field of natural resources.Methodology: The current research is qualitative and applied. In order to identify the current status of the sadro process and the license to exploit medicinal plants, the qualitative research method of the focus group has been used. This research selected 64 users and 30 experts from 6 provinces. Their points of view were collected and analyzed using content analysis.Results: The results showed that, in total, there are 23 harms in the process of exporting the exploitation of medicinal plants, which are the multiplicity of systems and the lack of an integrated and intelligent system, the lack of a common platform for the implementation of processes in the provinces, the physicality of performing a large part of the processes, unauthorized harvesting and No product license from the plantations, lack of specialized manpower for monitoring, handing over the right of exploitation to non-native people, neglect of some observers in declaring and including the actual amount of production and harvesting of medicinal plants, the small financial and economic power of the operators to prepare the plan booklet, the largest share in the pathology of the licensing process. Also, the results showed that the average time required to obtain a license with a design booklet is 16 months. Without a design booklet, it takes 67 days. This time to get a license to transport the product inside the province was estimated to be 17 days on average and 23 days outside the province.Conclusion: Issuing a license to harvest medicinal plants is one of the most critical licenses in the country's natural resources sector, which has its implementation process. There are various issues and problems in issuing this license, leading to problems and dissatisfaction among the users and, ultimately, damage to the rangelands. Therefore, taking measures to improve affairs and reform this process is a fundamental issue that needs to be investigated and proposed a solution. Based on the findings of this investigation, the creation of an integrated electronic system, continuous and regular field monitoring through intrusive intrusions at the various stages of medicinal plant exploitation, especially in the harvesting phase, with the cooperation of the engineering system organization, the priority of the exploitation contract with natives and local communities, and improving the motivation for public sector experts can be effective in enhancing the process.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
R. Saadati; A. Sattarian; A. Daneshvar; E. Amini; F. Nasrollahi
Abstract
Plants are part of the natural resources of any country. This section has been one of the most important sources of human food and medicine for generations. Golestan province is very rich in vegetation due to its suitable geographical location. The people of this region with different ethnicities have ...
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Plants are part of the natural resources of any country. This section has been one of the most important sources of human food and medicine for generations. Golestan province is very rich in vegetation due to its suitable geographical location. The people of this region with different ethnicities have had a close relationship with their surroundings, especially plants, from the distant past. Since in Iran, perfumeries are the most important centers in the supply of medicinal plants, in this study, by referring to perfumeries in four cities of eastern Golestan province, including Gonbad Kavous, Galikesh, Minoodasht, and Kalaleh, information about people working in perfumeries, clients, and reasons for referring to perfumeries were recorded. It was found that 56% of perfumeries in these cities are between 10 and 30 years old. The average age of people working in perfumeries was estimated to be 20 to 50 years old, 86% of whom were male and 41% of whom were employed without any relevant education and only through family experience or taking courses related to medicinal plants. The most common reason for people to refer to perfumeries was related to liver and gastrointestinal diseases; this may be due to the wrong lifestyle or diet of the people of the region. Despite the rich flora and suitable geography of Golestan province, as well as the tendency of the people of the region to use herbal medicines, the results showed that only 21% of the plants were prepared from within the province and the rest are imported from neighboring provinces. Therefore, it seems that with proper information science and education of local people, this capacity of the province could be optimized to provide the used plants and also create employment.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
T. Mohtashami; A. Karbasi; S.T Mortazavinia
Abstract
The use of chemical drugs is an inseparable part of the patient treatment process. However, the herbal medicines have also been used to treat many diseases and improve human health in the long run. The low side effects of medicinal plants and herbal medicines versus the higher side effects of chemical ...
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The use of chemical drugs is an inseparable part of the patient treatment process. However, the herbal medicines have also been used to treat many diseases and improve human health in the long run. The low side effects of medicinal plants and herbal medicines versus the higher side effects of chemical drugs is an advantage that can be used to improve and develop the market of medicinal plants. The present study aimed at investigating the factors affecting the purchase of various herbal medicines in Mashhad city. The data required in this study were collected by completing 150 questionnaires by the visitors to the Mashhad pharmacies who were selected by random sampling in 2018. Using the two-stage Tobit model, the results showed that the factors such as doctor's prescription, history of herbal medicine use in the relatives, and education have a positive and statistically significant effect on both the desire to buy and buy the herbal medicines stages. Accordingly, more attention to increase the awareness of the community and physicians to prevent the drug interactions can be an effective step to improve the use of these drugs.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
A. Abdi Siavashani; M.R. Forouzeh; H. Barani; H. Yegane Badrabadi; S.Z. Mirdeilami
Abstract
Medicinal plants are among the valuable natural resources of countries and can play a significant role in earning income and employment. To utilize the medicinal plants properly, the socio-economic factors affecting the monetization of these plants should be analyzed. Therefore, the present qualitative ...
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Medicinal plants are among the valuable natural resources of countries and can play a significant role in earning income and employment. To utilize the medicinal plants properly, the socio-economic factors affecting the monetization of these plants should be analyzed. Therefore, the present qualitative study was aimed at investigating the various factors affecting the ability to earn money from the medicinal plants of Lazur rangelands in Tehran province. The questionnaire and statistical communities of experts and utilizers were used to collect the required data. The responsive communities were selected based on the reputation analysis and purposeful sampling. This research was conducted in two parts. In the first part, the economic, social, natural, physical-infrastructural, human, and institutional policy factors were compared in pairs and ranked in terms of their contribution to the monetization of medicinal plants. To determine the most effective factor, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used and the judgments were made about the acceptance or rejection of the given ranks using the inconsistency rate. In the second part, some items were considered for each factor and the items were ranked separately on the Likert scale in terms of their role in the monetization. To compare the item rankings, the Mann-Whitney non-parametric analysis was used for two data sets and the Friedman one for more than two data sets. The results showed that in terms of the responsive communities, the economic factor with the first rank and institutional policy factor with the third rank were the most important factors in the monetization of medicinal plants. The physical and natural factors ranked second in terms of the local communities and experts, respectively. The means comparison of the items in the social, physical-infrastructural, and human factors showed that the mean score of items of each factor in the monetization had a statistically significant difference (p < /em>-value<0.05). In general, the results of present study showed that the provision of facilities, governmental support, processing facilities in the region, and coordination of activities of other institutions had the highest rank and therefore a greater role in the monetization of medicinal plants in the region.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
K. Moladoost; M. Shahmoradi
Abstract
There is a crucial need for a scientific view of the field of management and the problems in the medicinal plants’ sector and also a comprehensive study to explore challenges facing the development of this sector. The present study, with a quantitative orientation and using a descriptive–survey ...
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There is a crucial need for a scientific view of the field of management and the problems in the medicinal plants’ sector and also a comprehensive study to explore challenges facing the development of this sector. The present study, with a quantitative orientation and using a descriptive–survey method, aimed at identifying challenges facing the development of the medicinal plants’ sector in Iran. The statistical population of the study consisted of experts in the field of medicinal plants and people working in its different parts, 151 of which participated in the study through a purposive sampling method. A researcher -made questionnaire was used as the main research tool to evaluate the two levels of the current situation and the desired situation. The KMO index and Bartlett’s test were used to examine the validity of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was approved by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The results showed that social, economic, human resources and technological, managerial, market and marketing, and environmental factors had the greatest impact on the lack of desirable development of the medicinal plants' sector in Iran, respectively. From the point of view of the respondents, inefficiency and inadequate insurance coverage is the most important challenge for the development of this sector, and the main gap with the desirable situation is arising from limited, inefficiency, and non-targeted subsidies to support production. So, it is recommended to adopt supportive policies such as granting targeted subsidies, tax exemptions for processing and science-based units, various policies to reduce the cost of products with the active participation of producers, and those involved in the planning process for medicinal plants.
