Medicinal Aromatic Plant Cultivation for the Bioeconomy: Eliciting Willingness from Rural Communities

The COVID-19 pandemic created numerous issues, particularly in Southeast Asia, and the recovery needs strong actions with new economic paths. Sri Lankan government is also trying to help those who have lost their sources of income. Involving trade medical aromatic plants (MAPs) bearing unique properties will be important that aspect. Extracted isolated some secondary metabolites from developed life-saving medicine, flavonoids, repellents, cosmetics, scents enormous potential. India, China, other Asian countries dominate global MAP trade. However, Lanka yet enter market by utilising its abundant plant life. Determining rural communities’ willingness participate such programmes crucial. same authors identified 127 lesser-known potential MAPs as insect repellents interviewing traditional ayurveda practitioners subject experts. current study investigated sector six districts (Matara, Rathnapura, Kurunegala, Badulla, Hambanthota, Batticaloa) using a structured questionnaire survey for 480 households. Cinnamomum verum, Citrus aurantifolia, C. sinensis, reticulata, Aegle marmelos, Ocimum tenuiflorum Sub-type Rama were most top five species. sought information on respondents' demographics, availability agronomic plants, MAPs, homegardens cultivate supply medicinal plants. Binomial logistic regression was used determine effects respondent’s district, gender, age, education, total family revenue, crops, land space available cultivation number non-income-generating members, members contribute agriculture, external employees recruited labourers. Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated model reasonably fits data (p=0.77). In this case, district (p<0.05) gender statistically significant while variables not. Compared Badulla District, odds grow are approximately times greater Batticaloa four Hambantota, Matara three Rathnapura District. Subsequently, males than females. Finally, it can concluded encouraging areas benefit post-pandemic populations facilitating trade, which expected reach USD 5 trillion 2050.
 Keywords: Medicinal Bioeconomy, Post-pandemic future, Rural economy, Indigenous knowledge