Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants and sustainable harvesting of minor forest products is important for the conservation of rare species and improvement of rural economies. An analysis of the trends in marketing of four medicinal plants was conducted in Uttarakhand, India from 2007 to 2010; two cultivated (Saussurea lappa and Picrorhiza kurrooa), and two off-farm harvested medicinal plants (Sapindus mukorossi and Cinnamomum tamala). Data on volumes harvested and marketed was obtained from the Herbal Research and Development Institute and the Herbal Pharmaceutical Development Unit. Despite the low volume produced from the two cultivated species (on average 4.19 MT/year) compared to over 600.00 MT/year for the two off-farm species, they were marketed at better prices as compared to the off-farm harvested species: about 3.0 US$/kg as opposed to almost 0.50 $/kg. The total annual value of the cultivated species was almost 11.000 $/year and 290.000 US$ for the off-farm harvested species (based on sustainable use levels). In general, harvesting rates of all selected species increased in the years studied. The cultivated Saussurea lappa and Picrorhiza kurrooa are among the rare but globally significant medicinal plants, therefore, cultivation of these herbs is important for their conservation. Considerable quantities of Sapindus mukorossi and Cinnamomum tamala are marketed and these species seems to be pivotal for improvement of the rural economy. Little information is available on the policies for documentation of cultivation, sustainable harvesting, and trends in the marketing of medicinal plants from Indian Himalayan region (IHR). This communication is therefore important to understand the trends in the use of the selected species in the Uttarakhand, IHR.

Realizing the sustainability and competitiveness in the trade of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) resources of north India is challenging due to lack of participation from the primary producers (growers and harvesters). This is credited to their unawareness of sustainable resources management practices caused by the lack of a marketing information system (MIS) in the trade. The introduction of a MIS can supplement sustainability in the sector, while improving competitiveness. Through a qualitative research approach, this study investigates the need for marketing information among the primary producers of medicinal and aromatic plants of Uttarakhand, and offers a comprehensive framework for a provincial MIS and strategies for the MAP trade. The proposed MIS would be helpful in linking the MAP trade with sustainability and competitiveness.