“To plug the loopholes in marketing, a revolving fund worth Rs 50 lakh has been created by the Chief Minister so that farmers with smaller quantities of produce do not face problems. In addition to this, a Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been declared for nine medicinal plants,” pointed out Dr Kumar.

Meanwhile, farmers cultivating medicinal plants have been also alleging harassment by the Forest Department officials —something that Khanduri himself had talked about at a meeting earlier this month. “I am conveying my displeasure and anger at the way things stand. It is convenient to resort to means of smuggling than to work honestly. A man transporting things honestly is stopped by 25 forest officials,” he had said.

Officials, however, claimed that in order to facilitate easy passage of farmers, the transit passes are being issued without any hassle and in an easier format.

Uttarakhand’s potential can be gauged from the fact that more than 70 industries dealing in manufacturing of herbal medicines have set up units in the state. Some of them utilise nearly 1,000 metric tonnes of herbs on a monthly basis alone.