The Role of Medicinal Plants in the Development of Afghanistan's Economy and Trade

The Role of Medicinal Plants in the Economic and Commercial Development of the World

MPs have played a significant role in the evolution of various civilizations throughout history, and their use has been traditional and widespread from antiquity to the present. Traditional medicine (TM) is the primary source of healthcare for about 70% of people living in underdeveloped countries [7, 8]. Similarly, developed countries partially depend on MPs for their pharmaceutical products [9, 10]. According to estimates, 18% of the 150 most commonly given medications and 25% of contemporary medications are herbal [6]. China and India are two of the largest international players in this sector among the Asian countries, and Asian MPs contribute over 50% of worldwide TM revenue and 45% of total exports [11].

Asia is home to over 38,660 species of MPs, of which about 78 plant species have achieved commercial significance. Asia is one of the world’s major centers of biological resources [12]. Many Asian countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Indonesia, have made MPs cultivation a significant industry. However, future research and political interventions related to the production and commercialization of MPs and their contribution to the domestic and national economy of Asian countries are unclear [12].

Even though the MPs industry is seen as a promising one and a significant driver of economic growth, the amount of MPs exported remains modest. The market for MPs is raising worldwide, providing supplier countries with plenty of opportunities to increase their exports abroad. According to reports in the 1990s, the yearly volume of the global commerce in medicinal herbal materials was estimated to be 400,000 metric tons, valued at 1.2 billion dollars. In 1991, the WHO estimated that the market for herbal medicines in European countries was valued at approximately 6 billion dollars, with Germany accounting for 3 billion, France for 1.6 billion, Italy for 0.6 billion, and other countries for 0.8 billion. With the US contributing $4 billion, India $1 billion, and other countries $5 billion, the market value reached over $10 billion in 1996. By 1997, it had climbed to almost $7.0 billion for Europe alone, with Germany accounting for 50% of this total. Between 2015 and 2013, the global market for herbal goods and medications grew to a total value of 23 billion, 24 billion, and 25 billion dollars, respectively. This amount has increased to 35.4 billion dollars in 2020 while taking into account the compound annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2015 to 2020 [3].

Since Afghanistan, along with other Asian and developing countries, raises a higher percentage of its needs by relying on domestic products, including MPs, this review paper has discussed the importance of the mentioned resources in the growth of the country’s economy and trade. . The purpose of this research is to review the role of MPs in the development of Afghanistan’s economy and trade.

Medicinal Plants: A Fresh Breath for the Development of Afghanistan’s Economy and Trade

The majority of countries in the world, including Afghanistan, rely heavily on the contributions made by MPs to their economies [13]. Afghanistan has an exceptional capacity for the production and export of MPs and herbal medicines due to its unique geo climatic conditions and four distinct seasons. Many provinces in the country have a lot of potential for MPs cultivation, investment, and trade. With careful planning in this area, it is possible to not only meet the needs for basic healthcare and environmental preservation, but also to create jobs and stop the destruction of the green carpet [14].

Afghanistan is a landlocked country with mountains and a diverse flora, of which roughly 30% are endemic. The

development and expansion of the country’s economic and commercial standing are significantly influenced by these resources. Based on the facts and reports that are now accessible, the most significant components of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) are agricultural and livestock. Approximately 85% of Afghanistan’s population works as farmers [15]. Just 1/8 of the country’s land is arable, despite the fact that agricultural items account for the majority of its domestic production.

The dependence of Afghanistan’s economy on agricultural income, the affectability of income from complex political and commercial issues, the instability of Afghanistan’s commercial relations, unpredictable climatic conditions, the absence of laboratories equipped with the modern tools and equipment needed to process domestic products, the lack of sufficient budget to invest for the improvement of domestic production, etc., is among the effective factors in the vulnerability of the country’s economy. One of the approaches to deal with these challenges is to develop solutions not only improve the state of the domestic economy, but also increase the number of country’s export items.

Given the multifaceted role that MPs have played in the expansion and development of Afghanistan’s economy and trade, it is easy to see why these goods rank highly among the country's most important exports. According to Srivastava J, et al [16] MPs are viewed as a potential link between inexpensive healthcare, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable economic development.

Medicinal Plants as Important Sources of National Income

One of the Asian countries with a long history of utilizing TM and MPs for the prevention and treatment of a range of illnesses is Afghanistan [17, 18, 19]. In addition to inspiring and motivating officials to boost the cultivation of the desired MPs, the widespread use of traditional herbal preparations and products by individuals from various regions, especially rural residents also makes it possible to improve the export of these goods.

Moreover, a significant income can be attained by implementing suitable and thorough programs for the teaching of the country's traditional ancestral medicine ideas. India, for instance, is among the countries that receives substantial annual revenue from the training of Ayurvedic medicine to visitors from all over the world. In this regard, India can serve as a model for Afghanistan. In 1995, it was projected that the Indian medicinal plant sector brought in $250 million US dollars annually. The Chemexcil report states that the combined export value of Greek and Ayurvedic medicines in 1999–2000 was approximately $41.6 million dollars.

African countries are another noteworthy example, as TM plays a significant role in African culture and, as a result of limited access to contemporary medical care, over 80% of Africans, particularly those in South Africa, rely on TM and herbal products for primary healthcare. Twenty thousand tons of medicinal herbal ingredients, valued at around sixty million US dollars, are traded nationally in South Africa. The TM industry in Zambia is valued at almost 43 million dollars annually. Likewise, herbal medicine is widely used in the majority of Latin American countries. According to Oyebode O, et al & Abdullahi AA [20, 21], between 70 and 80 percent of Latin Americans, including those in Ecuador, rely on TM, MPs, or plant-derived products to address their health needs.

Medicinal Plants as the Main Resources for the Country’s Economic Self-sufficiency

The employment of various MPs by both domestic and foreign producers in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries can provide as a crucial foundation for enhancing and preserving the economic infrastructure. When it comes to endemic MPs, this matter is more crucial. As starting a number of related scientific research projects could be a useful business strategy. Roughly 5000 flowering plants have been identified in Afghanistan, with about 30% of them being endemic, according to studies conducted by German experts, Clark K [22]. According to this statistic, it can be said that Afghanistan possesses enormous plant reserves, including MPs, and that properly utilizing them contributes to increasing local production, creating jobs, and achieving economic self-sufficiency. Based on the findings of the study carried out in Bhutan, it is evident that MPs have been crucial in boosting farmers’ incomes, enhancing their economy, and improving their standard of living. They have also been important in protecting biodiversity, offering the general public access to basic traditional health care, and promoting the rich cultural diversity of the country [23].

Medicinal Plants as the Main Export Items of the Country

Exports constitute about 20% of the country’s GDP, and carpets (45% of total exports), dried fruits (31% of total exports) and MPs (12% of total exports) are considered among the country’s main export items. The majority of these commodities are exported to China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, and so on.

Most of the MPs from Afghanistan are shipped to produce pharmaceuticals. As per the latest government data, MPs ranked as the country's third most important export item in 2018, following carpets and Qaraqol. “Afghanistan has exported MPs worth 110 million dollars this year, and the majority of these items have been exported to India” according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock [24].

Based on data from the UN’s COMTRADE database, Afghanistan earned approximately 475.18 thousand US dollars in 2019 from exporting MPs used in the pharmaceutical industry, perfumery, and insecticide products to Iran (NA, Afghanistan Exports of plants for pharmacy, perfume, insecticides to Iran) [25]. According to the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Industry report, the province earned 308 million dollars in 2022 from the shipment of more than 113 thousand tons of MPs and dry fruits [26].

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) released numbers for 2019 showing that Afghanistan exported MPs worth 145,302,179 US dollars. With a value of 999, 630, 00 US dollars, Asafoetida was the most valuable MP exported. Similarly, liquorice makes up the largest share of the MP market; officials claim that Afghanistan made $54 million from the shipment of 20 thousand tons of liquorice last year. The same figures show that 733, 647, 343 Afghanis were exported overall this year, with a significant portion coming from the export of MPs. Furthermore, ¼ of all exports from the country are allegedly made up of MPs [27].

As per the officials of the chambers of commerce and industry, the export of herbs and MPs has increased significantly this year and brought more than 144 million dollars of income to the country. It’s been said that about 25% of Afghanistan’s exports are MPs and spices. The aforementioned authorities include saffron, cumin, and liquorice as some of this sector’s top export commodities. Afghanistan has sold more than 32,000 tons of MPs to foreign markets this year, according to ACCI figures [28].

Cultivation of Medicinal Plants as a Step to Increase Employment Opportunities

According to the findings of a study carried out in seven villages in Kalat, Iran, growing MPs significantly increases employment and lowers poverty levels in the studied areas. Thus, as compared to other agricultural crops, the average number of employment created by the cultivation of MPs per hectare is 103.1% more. In this way, diversifying economic endeavors through the growth of MPs contributes significantly to enhancing employment prospects and enhancing family welfare [29]. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture’s publications states that in 2019, over 4000 hectares of land were devoted to the production of MPs in order to boost their exports overseas. Thus, expanding MPs cultivation can be seen as a promising action toward enhancing employment opportunities and contributing to the country's overall income (Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock).

Medicinal Plants as Important Resources in Maintaining Public Health

By preserving and enhancing the community’s health, MPs can contribute to the growth of the country’s GDP. This link, which has both direct and indirect applications, supports regional, national, and local economic self-sufficiency as well as health [30].

Cultivation and Domestication of the Country’s Medicinal Plants

The pharmaceutical industry requires plant bioactive compounds in such large quantities that natural resources are unable to provide the demand. The country's wild plants have not been able to meet the increasing demand for MPs. However, some significant plants should be domesticated in order to address the non-observance of these plants’ reproductive and hereditary characteristics during collection by non-professional and unskilled people. A number of fundamental guidelines must be followed in order to preserve the quality of MPs and the quantity of bioactive substances. These guidelines include selecting elite species, varieties, seed, and cuttings carefully, as well as using the right tools and cultivation techniques to prepare the soil, light, water, and other elements. Apart from resolving certain issues, domesticating MPs offers the subsequent benefits and prospects:

• The employment of scientific and contemporary breeding procedures, mechanized agriculture, and the planting of modified seeds will make it easier to obtain a plentiful supply of high-quality medicinal raw materials.
• Scientific research can be developed to improve MPs.
• The presence of processing facilities adjacent to the fields can sometimes be advantageous to extract the bioactive compounds of MPs, minimize the cost of transportation, and lower the risk of herbal material degradation.
• Taking the required steps, such as growing plants asexually (by utilizing modified seeds) and sexually (by employing subterranean and aerobic plant parts, such as those found in marshmallow, Nepal yam, liquorice, and mint).
• Using hybridization and other genetic techniques to enhance the wild MPs’ adaptability to their surroundings.
• Using efficient farming practices, including as enhancing MPs and eliminating weeds and pests.

Below are Some Medicinal Plants of the Country that Require Domestication

Afghanistan has the capacity and potential to produce large amounts of MPs, but it hasn’t been able to establish a suitable position in the MPs trade on the international scene. Apart from various internal concerns, the primary challenges the country faces regarding the trade in MPs are the inadequate processing, standardization, and packaging of MPs and herbal products; the absence of branding; the unidentified nature of the country’s herbal products; the sale of raw drugs; and the existence of MPs without a valid certification in medicinal plant shops (Attaris). Additionally, there is a lack of timely monitoring of the status of MPs and herbal products inside the Attaris; the illegal export of MPs to neighboring countries; a lack of appropriate marketing strategies; lack of public awareness about the importance of MPs and their use as firewood and fuel materials, lack of proper knowledge of producers and consumers about MPs, etc [31, 32].

Major Medicinal Plants that Constitute Important Export Items of Afghanistan

The five groups that comprise Afghanistan’s primary export commodities are flowers, seeds, roots, leaves, and gums. The number of significant MPs that are often found on the country’s export item list is shown below.