Thursday, 11 May 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
City nurseries and shops dealing in sale of saplings have seen an unprecedented rise in the demand of plants, especially medicinal ones, post Covid-19 pandemic. In the last couple of years people remained worried about their health, which made them move towards the medical plants. Earlier the sale of these plants was dependent on the season, but after the pandemic, the situation has seen a drastic change.
Plants like Giloy, Neem and Tulsi have become a new trend among the general public these days.
The owner of Rakhi nursery, Vikas Maurya told the pioneer, “I have been running the nursery for years and have never seen the demand for medicinal plants more than the ornamental plants. Earlier we used to sell 70 per cent of ornamental plants in a month. But now the citizens of Dehradun have moved towards the medicinal plants like Aloe vera, Tulsi, Lemongrass and varieties of Neem.”
A senior citizen, Bharat Singh also shared how he started growing medicinal plants like Tulsi and Giloy after he consuming them during the Covid pandemic. He said, “I and my wife and I started making kadha of various medicinal plants to boost our immunity and we felt good changes in our health. Initially, I used to either buy these plants from the market or borrow from our neighbor’s but then I later started growing them in small and big pots. These plants do not take need much efforts to grow and their regular consumption keeps the body healthy”
“There has been a 50-60 per cent rise in the sale of medicinal plants, especially the plants expected to boost immunity, since the covid-19 has eased out. Now medicinal plants like Giloy have become extremely popular. In fact 30-35 people come to our nursery looking for it on a daily basis. Apart from this, people even demand ornamental plants like Pereskis aculeate, Peace lily and Money plant for their premise,” said Doon nursery owner, Kamala.
A restraint owner, Kaushal Koranga said, “I have 300 indoor plants at my house but just after the Covid I started planting the medicinal plants in my garden. The medicinal plants help in preventing us from the flu and cold. Nevertheless, I and my family have started using lemon grass extract and Giloy steam juice in our tea every day.”
