A trans-disciplinary agro-ecology strategy to grow medicinal plants

The scope of the emerging field of Ayurvedic-biology visualized thus far is confined to studies on dimensions pertaining to clinical and experimental pharmacology, basic trans-disciplinary science and drug design. However, given the multiple facets of classical Ayurveda knowledge system, its application in the field of organic agriculture perhaps also needs to be urgently explored. The urgency is due to the growing public acceptance of Ayurveda as a preferred clinical choice for well-being and disease management. The turnover of the sector across manufacturing and health services is estimated to be around Rs.1,00,000 crores per annum. Medicinal plants today and in the coming decade will therefore be required in large volumes and given that their applications are solely for enhancing health of humans, livestock (Pashu Ayurveda) and crops (Vriksh Ayurveda), it is imperative that they be cultivated in an organic manner employing the fusion of best available inter-cultural knowledge.

The Ayurvedic subjects relevant for organic agriculture are Desh vichar, Dravya guna Shastra and Vriksh Ayurveda. From the perspective of modern biology subjects like soil micro biome, genetics, plant physiology and the natural geographical distribution of species are relevant.

It must be stated at the very outset that this article is largely theoretical. While experiments in Vriksh Ayurveda have been attempted on a small scale, the fusion of Ayurveda and biology for improving organic agriculture of medicinal plants has thus far not been systematically explored.