Growing medicinal herbs right on the site. Medicinal plant business

Few people think, but the cultivation of medicinal plants as a business is a very profitable and sought-after business. First of all, the pharmaceutical industry is interested in this product. This industry is always thriving. In addition, the demand for natural preparations has increased the need for herbal manufacturers.

At the same time, the ability to collect herbs in wild nature. If earlier mass purchases of herbs were organized from the population, now they have less and less opportunities to collect herbs in meadows, fields, steppes, and so on. All free space is redeemed for various needs, cultivated, which is why the growth area useful herbs are shrinking.

Therefore, the targeted cultivation of medicinal herbs is increasingly in demand on the market today. And in pharmaceutical industry Various parts of plants are in demand depending on the species:

roots;
flowers;
fruit;
bark;
leaves;
stems.

What is needed to organize a business

Growing medicinal plants has an undeniable advantage - it is not necessary to have a large area for its organization. Cultivation can be organized on your own plot near the cottage. The demand for herbs is so great that even a small plot will generate income.

However, one should not hope that a business can be organized in a city apartment. Most herbs require plenty of sunlight to thrive. In addition, it is recommended to take up the cultivation of herbs typical of this natural zone. In this case, the necessary water regime, soil composition, etc. will be observed. Only in this way they will be stretched with all the necessary substances, for which they are valued by pharmacists.

So, the first thing you need to organize the cultivation and collection of herbs is own site in the countryside. It makes sense to rent it when you have studied all the intricacies of growing and are planning a volumetric collection of herbs.

plant species

Next, you need to decide how you will sow the plots. To do this, you need to study the demand for medicinal herbs. Contact potential suppliers and clarify what kind of plants they are interested in, what their procurement requirements are. You can immediately tell them, they say, I sell medicinal herbs. Perhaps already at this stage it will be possible to reach preliminary agreements on the sale of products.

As for plant species, which are usually in high demand in the market, they can be divided into 12 main groups:

Myrtle (cedar, ginger).
Lavender (lavender, cypress, sage, juniper).
Bitter (naioli, wormwood, thyme, tea tree, eucalyptus).
Coniferous (spruce, pine, fir).
Sweet floral (ylang-ylang pink tree, geranium, nerola).
Camphor (valerian, jasmine, frankincense, chamomile).
Woody (vetiver, patchouli, myrrh, sandalwood).
Sweet-spicy (cinnamon, ginger, bay, cloves, pepper, nutmeg).
Honey (stevia, anise, fennel).
Citrus fruits (bigardia, lemon, bergamot, orange).
Menthol (verbena, mint, lemon balm).
Spicy (rosemary, marjoram, basil, oregano).

Some plants are unpretentious in care, while others are extremely difficult to cultivate. Therefore, it is better to start with simple plants, gradually cover more capricious ones.

Herb selection

The greatest demand today for such herbs:

flax seeds;
fern rhizomes;
hemlock;
aconite tubers;
hop inflorescences;
dope;
henbane;
digitalis;
belladonna leaves;
St. John's wort;
oregano;
succession;
plantain;
Birch buds.

Before growing any of these plants, it is necessary to study all the subtleties of its cultivation, the requirements for soil, climate, light regime, fertilizer, and so on.

Growing organization

So, you need to start a business with simple and popular plants, and with the acquisition of experience, cover more complex and expensive ones. Over time, the collection of herbs can be expanded with related production: grinding and packaging herbs, making aromatic oils, dry extracts, and more. Of course, this will require significant investments in expensive equipment, but the profitability of such production will be significantly higher.

The type and cost of equipment in this case will depend on the type of plant processing chosen. So, if you decide to specialize in essential plants, it will make sense to subsequently purchase extraction equipment. essential oils. If your specialization is the collection of rhizomes, stems and leaves, then you need to purchase equipment for washing and grinding them.

In any case, the collection of plants involves their drying and storage. These stages must comply with state standards. They are designed separately for various plants. For example, the collection of nettle leaves is regulated by GOST 12529-67.

Therefore, if you plan to cultivate herbs in industrial scale, must be certified by the Ministry of Health of Russia. To do this, it is necessary to bring the cultivation and storage to the appropriate standards. Detailed requirements for each plant can be obtained from the ministry itself. Of course, in order to receive a certificate, you will need to register as individual entrepreneur or legal entity.

Collection rules

The main rules that must be followed when collecting herbs can be expressed in the basic postulates:

suitable place of growth;
timely collection;
good drying;
the freshness of the herb;
uncorrupted;
neutrality.

The land from which the plants are collected must be clean, away from highways and highways. Stems, branches and roots are harvested after the juices have dried. Young shoots, milk and leaves - in the rainy season and active growth. The ends of the shoots, fruits and flowers - in the fall. It is impossible to collect plants all clean, so that the possibility of their reproduction remains.

Business nuances

If you decide to start with small volumes, it is worth growing several species that are similar to each other at once. At the first stage, it is not necessary to purchase expensive equipment. You can basically do without it. In this format, the profitability of the business can reach 150%.

You can learn all the nuances of growing plants in special courses. They have a different thematic focus and for 64 hours of training they will require only $ 120. Payment.

Since ancient times, people have used medicinal herbs to treat various diseases. Currently, they are used not only in the form of infusions, decoctions, on their basis, pharmacologists prepare medicines - tablets, powders, ointments necessary for treatment.

Many well-known foreign pharmaceutical companies grow medicinal raw materials on their own plantations, thereby obtaining high-quality raw materials.

In our country, with a few exceptions, the old system of harvesting herbs has been destroyed, and a new one has not been created. At the same time, the demand for herbal medicine is growing. All this creates a deficit. medicinal herbs and rising prices for them.

Plan. If you are able to use land plot, organize cultivation of medicinal herbs the most valuable. This is a rather profitable business, especially if you get the appropriate training, become the official manufacturer of a large company, best of all, a pharmaceutical plant.

The most popular raw materials are St. (cones) of hops, aconite tubers, hemlock, fern rhizomes, flax seeds, etc.
For successful cultivation medicinal plants must comply with the same conditions as for other crops, i.e. cultivation in areas with proper weather and soil conditions where there are optimal opportunities to meet the requirements of the respective plant species for heat, moisture and soil. All these conditions must be carefully observed, especially when growing those plant species whose natural habitats are located outside the area in which they are to be bred. The fact is that when growing medicinal plants that are not typical for a given region, they may not contain some substances necessary for the manufacture of the corresponding medicine. That is why one should strictly adhere to the agricultural technology of growing each type of medicinal plant.

A number of plants are easy to grow, they do not require special agrotechnical methods of cultivation, special care. Here are the technologies for growing the most popular plants.

Valerian officinalis. In the end summer period or at the very beginning of autumn, try to walk through the wet and swampy places of forest edges and glades and collect the seeds of valerian officinalis, and plant them in the ground in early November, you can do this in the spring. Sow seeds with a distance of 45 cm between rows in well and deeply cultivated soil to a depth of 1 cm (compost is desirable, and if the earth is acidic, then lime). Takes out valerian officinalis and slight shading. Although it prefers moist soil in nature, it was believed in the old days that the best roots can be collected from dry high places. From time to time it is useful to plant wild valerian between the bushes. To make the rhizomes more powerful, cut off the flower-bearing stems that appear in summer. In the second year, valerian rhizomes can be dug up. Leave the most for seeds best plants, water them abundantly and fertilize thoroughly. Rhizomes grown in the garden reach a length of 15 cm (in the wild - 5 cm).

Altea officinalis. The soil for planting should be fertile, sandy or clay. For planting, it is better to use seeds 2-3 years old; before planting, it is advisable to soak in water for 3-5 days. In the autumn, 5-6 kg per 1 square meter is brought in for digging. m rotted manure or compost, in early spring the plot is loosened with a hoe by 4-5 cm, and seeds are sown in furrows to a depth of 2-3 cm with a distance between rows of 45-60 cm. Already in the first year, when favorable conditions you can get a good harvest of roots.

Elecampane is high. Elecampane seeds are sown in well-fertilized and dug-up soil in early spring or late autumn to a depth of 2-3 cm with a row spacing of 60 cm. About a hundred seeds are sown per 1 meter of beds. Elecampane can also be propagated by segments of rhizomes or seedlings can be grown from seeds, then planted in well-fertilized soil. Blooms from late June to September. The rhizome is harvested in October in the second year after planting.

Melilot officinalis. The soil for its cultivation should be fertilized with phosphorus and potash fertilizers. It grows on any soil, does not like acidic and waterlogged soil, tolerates drought well. Seeds are sown early in spring to a depth of 2-3 cm with a distance between rows of 45 cm. It will take about 200 seeds per 1 m of the bed. Blooms from June to October. Gathering leaves and flowers.

Oregano ordinary. Since it has been growing in one place for several years, the soil must be well fertilized (5 kg of manure and 30 g of superphosphate per 1 sq. M). Grows in sunny places. Seeds are sown in May to a depth of 1 cm with a row spacing of 45 cm. The soil is well leveled after sowing and watered. When propagated by rhizomes, oregano is transplanted in early spring or September. In the first year, the plants do not bear fruit. The herb is used for medicinal purposes.

St. John's wort pierced. St. John's wort - photophilous plant- tolerates cold well, in one place can grow up to 10 years. Therefore, the soil must be well fertilized (5-7 kg of manure will be required per 1 sq. M). It is better to sow the plant before winter 1-2 weeks before frost. St. John's wort is sown superficially with row spacing of 45 cm. 1500 seeds (0.15 g) are sown per 1 m of beds. The beds periodically need to be weeded, the aisles need to be loosened. St. John's wort is harvested during flowering, cutting upper part stems with leaves and flowers.

Pharmaceutical camomile. Chamomile can be sown in the spring, when the snow melts, winter sowing can be done a few days before frost, but it is better to sow in the first decade of August. Seeds are sown with incorporation during winter and autumn sowing to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, with late sowing - 0.5 cm. Chamomile inflorescences are harvested during flowering - from July to September.

Salvia officinalis. He loves light and warmth, tolerates drought well, but freezes in cold winters, does not like excess moisture. Sage is sown with germinated seeds in early spring to a depth of 3-4 cm with a distance between rows of 46-60 cm and a sowing rate of 0.8 g/sq. m. Crops are loosened, weeded, moderately watered. Sage blooms in June-July. Collected for medicinal purposes leaves with the tops of the stems during flowering.

Experts believe that up to 5 tons of chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, motherwort and valerian can be grown on 5 hectares of land, which will require about 180 thousand rubles, taking into account all expenses, and the net profit will be more than 100 thousand rubles a year. When sowing medicinal herbs of about 50 species on large areas (up to 500 hectares), the annual net income will be about 25 million dollars, however, for this, up to 22 million dollars will have to be invested initially. Looking for investors!

Recommendations. Start with a small amount of several types of herbs. As you gain experience, stop at the most profitable types. In the future, you can organize the processing of raw materials: grinding and packaging, production of dry extracts (isolated from herbs and dried active substances), production of aromatic oils. Profitability with processing will be significantly higher, but at the same time it will be necessary to purchase expensive equipment and obtain a license.

Training can be done in special schools, where you will learn what herbs are more profitable to deal with, study the cultivation technology in relation to your soil and climatic conditions, and find the necessary information on the marketing of your future products. Courses « decorative garden and vegetable garden" is available at the International Academy of Business, where training takes place on the following topics: "Garden of medicinal herbs", "Kindergarten herbs”, “Growing exotic plants"and others (10 topics). Training period - 64 hours, cost - 120 USD. e. You can take similar courses at the Moscow State Technological Academy (courses for fish breeders and farmers on the topic “Cultivation of medicinal herbs”).
JSC "Krasnogorskleksredstva" sells seeds of medicinal plants: plantain, string, valerian and concludes contracts for their cultivation, providing full methodological assistance.

Thousands of years ago, when mankind did not know what pills and injections were, the most faithful assistant in the fight against different kind ailments were medicinal plants.

However, even today, when the windows of pharmacies are filled with a great variety of all kinds of Russian and foreign medicines, many of our compatriots are trying to improve their health with natural natural preparations based on medicinal plants. And since there is a demand for this product, then you can make good money on the cultivation and sale of medicinal plants.

What medicinal plants are in demand?

This business should be started by growing the most popular medicinal plants. Information about the value of a particular species can be easily found in the specialized literature. The greatest demand is traditionally enjoyed by such medicinal herbs and plants as: coltsfoot, St. John's wort, calendula, wild rose, succession, oregano, elecampane, etc.

Most of the listed herbs grow well in the wild, so you can pick them up, harvest them and then sell them. In the forest, you can additionally collect Linden blossom, pine and birch buds.

Even taking into account the rather wide distribution area of the medicinal plants listed above, the reserves provided by nature, in recent times decreased markedly. In this case, it is possible to organize the cultivation of plants on household plots and in dachas, if climatic conditions permit.

Before starting work, it is necessary to carefully study the varieties of plants, prepare planting and harvesting schedules, and create the necessary conditions for breeding medicinal plants.

Growing calendula as a business

Calendula (popularly - marigolds) is one of the leaders among medicinal plants, it is one of the ten most cultivated medicinal crops.

It's beautiful unpretentious plant grows in almost all regions of Russia. Calendula flowers are used to make decoctions, ointments and tinctures, which are used to treat numerous diseases. Calendula has bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. Growing this plant is a great start for a small business.

Growing calendula is not difficult at all, the main care for it is timely watering, fertilizing, weeding and periodic loosening of the soil. By the way, she is not afraid of frost and tolerates transplanting very well even during flowering. Calendula is resistant to many diseases and pests.

Sow marigold seeds to a depth of 2-4 centimeters according to the scheme 30x30 or 40x40 cm. open field marigolds usually bloom 50-60 days after sowing.

The collection of inflorescences begins immediately after the start of flowering and continues harvesting until the frost.

Growing oregano

Oregano is widely used in official medicine, her grass is among the champions in the content of vitamin C.

In Russia, oregano is distributed almost everywhere, with the exception of the regions of the Far North. For growing oregano, glades of dry forests, their edges, dry open rocky places, upland meadows are chosen. The plant loves rich soils, in especially favorable conditions it can form whole thickets.

Seeds are sown in early spring to a depth of 1 cm with a row spacing of 40-45 centimeters. After sowing, the soil is well leveled and watered abundantly. Medicinal raw materials blooming above-ground leafy stems with flowers up to 20 cm long serve.

Recently, there has been a tendency that the acquisition of medicinal raw materials from the population becomes almost impossible, because all free lands are gradually being redeemed, and therefore there is nowhere to collect herbs. Therefore, the cultivation of medicinal plants as a business is a fairly profitable enterprise, and it is also quite in demand. Depending on the plant species, pharmaceutical companies accept the following plant parts:

roots and stems;
flowers and fruits;
bark and leaves.

Business organization

If you have a land plot at your disposal, then you can safely organize the cultivation of medicinal herbs as a business. The ideal option there will be a special training that will help you understand all the intricacies of this process.

In addition, the success of the company will depend on successful deals, and the absence of competitors, it is better if you work with pharmaceutical companies on official terms. They account for the largest part of the profit.

The demand for medicinal raw materials is quite large, moreover, it will not be required large areas for these purposes, but you cannot organize this business in an apartment. It is necessary to take into account the conditions in which the plant of your choice will grow. In addition to natural factors, sunlight and soil moisture, territorial moments are taken into account.

In addition, other important conditions must be met:

Acquisition of land.
Acquisition of the necessary plant seeds. It should be noted that wild medicinal herbs, unlike domestic ones, are not whimsical to weather conditions or special care. And by choosing a plant that matches the climatic conditions of your region, you will avoid additional waste for watering.
Utility room well ventilated. Its purpose is to store the collected raw materials until the moment of sale. If the business is growing at an accelerated pace, then utility room will have to be expanded so that it meets all the necessary standards.
Equipment, based on the direction of the work performed. These can be washing machines (when harvesting roots), and equipment for extracting oil (in the case of growing oilseeds), as well as drying equipment, with a small amount of raw materials, a canopy is also suitable, and for large volumes, dryers are simply necessary.
The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation will need to undergo certification in order to permit activities. Quite serious requirements are imposed on this business, the results of which are strictly controlled by the relevant authorities.

Based on the experience of other companies, it will be most profitable to grow several types of plants on the same site, with the same ripening and harvesting times.

For example: sage, mint and lavender plants are essential oil crops. All of them can grow in the same area without conflicting with each other.

plant species

In order for the herbal business to flourish, you need to decide which plants will grow on your site. To do right choice in favor of a particular plant, it is necessary to study the demand for medicinal raw materials. And also find out from future business partners what plants they need for production. medicines.

Calendula: the main raw material is flowers

Growth

A fairly common culture in all regions of Russia, undemanding to weather conditions and temperature extremes.

Medicinal species

On the basis of inflorescences, ointments, decoctions, tinctures are made.

Applied as:

anti-inflammatory;
sedative.

As an addition to the main treatment, use:

with gastroenterological diseases;
with dental diseases;
for burns and wounds.

Chamomile: the main raw materials are flowers and stems

Growth

Distributed in most regions of Russia, undemanding to climatic conditions, easily grown in a summer cottage.

Dosage forms

Dry raw materials are used to prepare decoctions or infusions.

Application

Used as:

antiseptic;
anti-inflammatory;
antispasmodic;
choleretic agent.

For treatment:

gastroenterological diseases;
gynecological diseases;
excretory organs, liver.

In addition, it is used in cosmetic procedures.

Coltsfoot. The main raw materials are inflorescences and leaves

Growth

Does not require any special climatic conditions, is common in many regions of Russia.

Dosage forms

Decoctions and infusions are prepared from inflorescences and leaves.

Application

Dry raw coltsfoot is used for such diseases:

eating disorders;
kidney failure;
skin diseases;
diseases of the respiratory system.

Used as:

anti-inflammatory;
antispasmodic;
atherosclerotic agent.

In addition to the above plants, we can advise the cultivation of burdock, plantain, St. John's wort, celandine and Jerusalem artichoke.

All plants grow quite easily in any regions, are not demanding on special climatic conditions, and also occupy a leading position in popularity.

Collection rules

The consumption capacity of pharmaceutical plants is increasing every year, on average they need about 50 thousand tons. The procurement figure is much less, so the collection of medicinal herbs as a business is considered a way out of this situation. At minimal cost you can get good results.

The popularity and benefits of using medicinal herbs cannot be disputed. significant portion medical preparations is made on their basis, and every year the demand for medicines made using medicinal plants increases among the population.

Statistics show that drugs that are complex chemical compound, often bring serious complications to patients (more than 5% of patients suffer from diseases resulting from their intake). Therefore, a business based on the cultivation of medicinal herbs for medicinal purposes is becoming more profitable and promising.

It is especially important to take into account that fields and meadows in ecologically clean areas, where medicinal plants could freely grow in natural conditions, are becoming less and less due to the intensive use of agricultural resources for production purposes. At present, the medicinal plant business is becoming real way meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry in natural herbal medicinal raw materials. Beneficial features may appear in various parts medicinal plants, including flowers, fruits, leaves, stems, bark, roots.

In order to build successful business in the field of growing medicinal plants, often a small backyard or garden plot. The products of large farms in this area are sorely lacking for a powerful pharmaceutical industry, the demand for medicinal plants is constantly growing, therefore, grown on small plot plants and herbs can bring significant income to owners.

Like any technological process The cultivation of medicinal herbs requires special knowledge and experience. Before starting work, it is necessary to study the varieties of plants, planting and harvesting schedules, conditions for placing and caring for crops (plantings). Many plants grow better and accumulate nutrients under the influence of heat and sun rays(with the exception of nettle, catnip, valerian). Medicinal plants are divided into 12 main types, of which:

jasmine, incense, chamomile, valerian - camphor;
bergamot, orange, bigardia, lemon - citrus fruits;
basil, oregano, rosemary, basil - spicy;
anise, fennel, stevia - honey;
mint, lemon balm, verbena - menthol;
pepper, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon - sweet and spicy;
patchouli, myrrh, sandalwood - woody;
geranium, ylang-ylang, rosewood - sweet floral;
spruce, pine, fir - coniferous;
tea tree, wormwood, eucalyptus, thyme - bitter;
cypress, lavender, juniper, sage - lavender;
cedar, ginger - myrtle.

An example of the most famous herbs can serve as some of them.

Calendula is used to treat burns and wounds, as well as to rinse the mouth with stomatitis and the throat with sore throat.

Calendula, which especially useful qualities flowers have. This is an unpretentious plant that grows in Russia in almost all areas, not afraid of temperature fluctuations. Calendula flowers in the form of decoctions, ointments, tinctures have an anti-inflammatory, sedative effect and are used to treat numerous diseases: gastroenterological,; burns and wounds. Growing this plant is a great start for a small business.

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and local anesthetic properties.

Chamomile is known for its many medicinal properties, including antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and choleretic. Chamomile is used in the concomitant treatment of gastroenterological, gynecological diseases, diseases of the excretory organs, liver. It is widely used by cosmetologists.

Chamomile grows in many regions of Russia. This unpretentious plant can be successfully grown in personal plots. Chamomile is harvested during the flowering period, plucked together with flowers, dried in ventilated rooms. The resulting dry inflorescences are used in the form of decoctions and infusions. Chamomile is available in almost every home medicine cabinet and, with well-established cultivation in small plots, can bring tangible income.

Coltsfoot is used in the preparation of cough remedies

Perennial coltsfoot also has wide popularity as a highly effective medicinal plant used in the concomitant treatment of eating disorders, kidney failure, skin, lung and bronchial diseases. Coltsfoot has a wide range of therapeutic and prophylactic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, atherosclerotic. Used in the treatment of inflorescences and leaves of the plant. The coltsfoot is easily grown on small areas unpretentious to climatic conditions.

In addition to the listed medicinal plants, representatives of small businesses can be recommended to grow and sell in the production of medicinal products such popular medicinal properties plants such as burdock, plantain, St. John's wort, celandine, Jerusalem artichoke, etc. All the listed herbs are traditionally used in Russia in the treatment of many diseases and are in great demand among the population. At the same time, novice businessmen need to decide in advance which type of plant is most profitable to grow in a particular area.

Marketing research

Of great importance are the correct selection of soil, climatic conditions, irrigation possibilities and special care for plants, because the yield of each crop depends on these factors, and, accordingly, the future profitability of medicinal plants. It is useful to conduct thorough preliminary marketing research, get recommendations from professionals with experience in this production.

In the process of marketing research, it is necessary to find out important points:

local demand for specific medicinal plants;
the presence of enterprises using this raw material in their production;
the possibility of competition.

Business Performance Issues

Based on the existing experience in this matter, it can be recommended to grow several types of plants on one large plot (mini-farm) at the same time with similar technologies and periods of growth, ripening and harvesting, as well as its subsequent processing. This is of great importance for economical and productive business, ensuring high profitability (up to 150% and more). In this case, significant savings are achieved through the use of the same type of modern plant care equipment, as well as the preparation of special rooms with necessary conditions for drying and preparing them for sale.

An example of rational housekeeping is the simultaneous cultivation of such popular crops as sage, mint, lavender (essential oil herbs). In this case, a highly efficient modern equipment for extracting oils. When growing plants that use their roots for medicinal purposes, it is important to take care of thorough washing and purchase the appropriate equipment.

In order to provide opportunities for further expansion and improvement of the business, it is necessary to plan and equip appropriate premises in advance to ensure the implementation of the drying technology and the preparation of products for sale in accordance with the requirements of government specifications and standards. To obtain quality certificates from special state control bodies and the Ministry of Health of Russia, it is necessary that the entire process of growing and preparing medicinal plants for sale complies with the established rules.