Factors limiting medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation in Paonta block of district Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh

The study examined factors limiting cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in Paonta block of district Sirmour in Himachal Pradesh through a survey of 398 farmers in September and December 2013. The findings revealed 12 factors which were limiting the cultivation of MAPs in the area. These factors were ranked as i) low economic returns in comparison to horticultural crops (flowers, vegetables and fruits), ii) lack of sustainable demand, iii) lack of knowledge about agronomic practices in MAPs, iv) migration of youth to urban areas for earning, v) lack of assured market, vi) lack of cultivation and harvesting techniques, vii) non-availability of planting material, viii) lack of cluster cultivation approach, ix) lack of liasoning with line departments, x) lack of proper storage facilities, xi) unawareness about value addition and xii) legal problems in transportation and licensing of MAPs. Policies and programmes emphasizing on these constraints would certainly promote the cultivation of MAPs for socio-economic upliftment of the farming community in these areas.