CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS THROUGH AGROFORESTRY

A study was carried out to explore the possibility to cultivation of five commercially important medicinal plants namely Bashak (Adhatoda zeylanica), Kalomegh (Andrographis paniculata), Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Satamuli (Asparagus racemosus) and Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) through agroforestry systems in Chittagong Hill Tract (Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban) of Bangladesh.A field based investigation was carried out during June 2011 to May 2014 through several discussion meetings with participation of farmers, extension workers and other agencies where a total of 90 individuals (the key informant) were interviewed on the basis of purposive sampling technique. Finally 10 farmers from each site were selected for conducting field experiment. The five selected species were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six replications in association with Papaya based, Mango and Litchi based, and Guava and Banana based agroforestry system. Growth, survival performances and yield of the products of the selected medicinal plants in the three districts were analysed. The findings revealed that among the five medicinal plants Kalomegh, Bashak, Tulsi and Satamuli were suitable for commercial plantation through agroforestry system.  However, Aswagandha showed poor performance in all the three sites and need more trial to recommend for commercial plantation.