The exports of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) medicines, medicinal plants and their by-products have recorded a commendable growth in the 10th five year Plan period and also in the beginning of the subsequent five year plan, according to a report from the Department of Ayush.
A draft status report of the Ayush industry in the country, which describes the developments till the year 2008, has pointed out that the exports of Ayush products in five years from 2003-04 has recorded a steady growth and a decline in imports. The net value addition reporting a growth of 10.89 per cent during 13 years' period between 1995-96 and 2007-08.
"A continuous growing Net Value Addition as related to Ayush products has been observed during last five years that signify the continuous increasing interest in Ayush system of medicines outside the boundary of the territory," says the report.
During the 10th five year plan, export of Ayush products has increased from Rs 1864.88 crore in 2002-03 to Rs 2186.96 crore in 2006-07, showing an average annual growth rate of 4.06 per cent. Meanwhile, on an average, the import of Ayush products has declined by 4.8 per cent annually, from 317.53 crore in 2002-03 to 260.82 crore in 2006-07.
Thus, during this plan the net value addition of Ayush products has increased substantially from just above Rs 1000 crore in 2002-03 to 2186.96 crore in 2006-07, showing the average annual growth rate of 5.63 per cent. During the first year of 11th Plan, in 2007-08, the export and import have grown by 4.06 per cent and 2.72 per cent respectively, causing the average annual growth rate of 4.23 per cent in respect of net value addition.
"During the last five years, a continuous growing trend has been observed in India's foreign trade with respect to Ayush related Items in respect of export, import and Net value addition," notes the Department.
The import-export data on Ayush products are seperately available only from the financial year 2003-04, as the government started classifying the different heads only from that year. The classification of Ayush products has also been elaborated in the year as medicants and medicaments of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathic and Bio-chemic systems. Whereas prior to 2003-04, for the purpose of foreign trade, they were only categorised in two heads, one the ayurvedic & unani medicines and the second as - Homoeopathic Medicines, explains the Department of Ayush officials.
Before that, during the 9th five year plan period, exports of Ayush products has increased from Rs 1107.75 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 1278.68 crore in 2001-02, showing an average annual growth rate of 3.65 per cent, whereas import of the products in the segment has increased from Rs 85.58 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 232.64 crore in 2001-02, showing an average annual growth rate of 28.4 per cent. As a result, the net value addition of Ayush products during the 9th five year plan has recorded an increase from Rs 1022.17 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 1046.04 crore in 2001-02, showing a nominal growth rate of 0.58 per cent only, explains the report.
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