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Indigenous Medicinal Plant Species and Their Relative Prevalence in Homestead and Crop Field at North-west Region of Bangladesh

*M A Akter
Dept. of Agroforestry and Environment, BSMRAU Salna, Gazipur

MG Miah
Dept. of Agroforestry and Environment, BSMRAU Salna, Gazipur

S T Hossain
Dept. of Agroforestry and Environment, BSMRAU Salna, Gazipur

M Fatema
Dept. of Agroforestry and Environment, BSMRAU Salna, Gazipur

M Mahmudunnabi
Dept. of Agroforestry and Environment, BSMRAU Salna, Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study was designed considering the importance of indigenous medicinal plant species as a natural resource in North-West Region of Bangladesh and conducted during 15 February to 30 June 2006 at Nilphamari district. The main focuses were given on identification of existing indigenous medicinal plant species and their relative prevalence. Data were collected from the local people and local doctor (Kabiraj) through personal interview, group discussion and visit to the respondent’s homestead because homestead is the store house of indigenous medicinal plant species. Hundred respondents from twenty villages under Nilphamari Sadar Upazila were randomly selected for the above purposes. In the study area, a total of 73 medicinal plants species were documented in the homesteads and crop fields but most of them are available in the homestead. The result showed that the common timber and fuel species in the crop field were Sweitenia mahogani, Acacia nilotica, Acacia auriculiformis, Cassia fistula, Dalbergia sisso, Samanea saman and the common short rotational herb species were Polialthia longifolia, Allium cepa, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Capsicum annum. The relative prevalence of different species in homesteads and crop fields showed that the relative prevalence of the most of the long rotational species were higher in homestead compare to the crop field, while, relative prevalence of some species especially short rotational herb species i.e., Allium cepa, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Capsicum annum, were higher in crop field than that of homestead. However, the variation in relative prevalence of less cultivating species was not much. Therefore, the study showed that homestead is the main source of indigenous medicinal plant species in the studied areas.

Keywords: Medicinal plant, Species richness, Relative prevalence.

Location: North-West Region of Bangladesh at Nilphamari district

Start Date: 15-02-2006

End Date: 30-06-2006

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

The present study was undertaken to document the existing medicinal plant species and their relative prevalence in homestead and crop field at North West Region of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Site Selection The site is situated in the near foothill of the Himalayas and has a long tradition of growing different medicinal plants naturally. The study area was in the Nilphamari district under the command area of RDRS (Rangpur Dinajspur Rural Services), Bangladesh. Four unions namely, Itakhola, Kundupukur, Palashbari and Ramnagar were selected purposively from a total of 62 unions under Nilphamari Sadar Upazila. Total villages under 4 unions were enlisted and 20 villages were selected from these enlisted villages for study. The survey area and different farmers groups were selected purposively with the help of Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer of Department of Agricultural extension (DAE), and Manager (Crop) of RDRS. Five respondents from each selected villages were taken randomly as sample respondents and then the data on medicinal plant identification, conservation and other related information were collected from them using structured questionnaires. Formal survey for data collection A formal survey was carried out from 15 February to 15 June 2006. Initially 20 days were spent to select the villages and households by observing the status of medicinal trees, shrubs, herbs, and knowledge of using these species. Structured questionnaire were used to collect the desired information keeping objectives of the study in mind. The questionnaires were pre-tested (before starting the actual survey) with 20 households in order to validate the questionnaires at field level and make necessary modification. Most of the questions were open in order to get explanatory answers. The selected respondents were personally interviewed by the researchers with the assistance of Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO). Data were collected on the socioeconomic characteristics such as educational level, farm size, family size, homestead area, income from medicinal plants, knowledge on medicinal plants, preference towards medicinal plants etc. After completion of each interview, the schedule was checked and verified to ensure that answers to each item were recorded properly. If any item was overlooked, the farmers were revisited for obtaining the correct information. In order to get valid and reliable data, these were verified, corrected and rationalized by repeating questions, asking neighboring farmers, interviewer’s own judgment in evaluating the accuracy of responses. The interview schedule was designed to collect information in local units. However, these were converted into national/international standard units during final compilation. The sample respondents of the study consisted of 100 households. The respondent farmers were categorized based on farm size that includes: small and marginal. From each category, households were selected randomly. Most of the information was obtained by interviewing household members. In each household, the head of household either male or female was the respondents. Some parameters especially structure and spatial arrangements of home garden and homestead land use pattern were measured using simple techniques and visual observations. Total ten Kabiraj (Traditional village doctor) were selected and enlisted in the study villages to get necessary information regarding identification and conservation of medicinal plant species and benefits in terms of use and applications. Informal survey In addition to the formal survey, informal discussions were held with the Department of Agricultural Extension Officials and eminent old persons of the study area to get information and knowledge about proper identification and use of medicinal plant species, problems regarding their collection and conservation, and suggestions for effective utilization of medicinal plant. Identification & documentation of medicinal plant species Identification of the existing medicinal plant species (trees, shrubs and herbs) was done by the help of rural aged people and (Kabiraj). Most of the species were finally identified using medicinal plants related reference books. Relative prevalence of species Prevalence of medicinal plant means general widespread of medicinal plants in a particular area. To indicate the importance and species richness of different plants in homestead area, a relative prevalence (RP) of species per unit area was determined by the following formula: Relative prevalence of homestead species = Population of the species per homestead × % of homestead with the species. Relative prevalence of farm land species = Population of the species per farm land × % of farm land with the species.

Source of Information: Eco-friendly Agril. J. 3(8):349-357, 2010 (August)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

There were many important medicinal plant species available in the study areas. These could be the promising source of manufacturing modern medicine in Bangladesh and source of socioeconomic improvement through supply of fruit, fuel and timber to the rural people. A total of 73 medicinal plant species were identified in the homesteads and crop fields in the study areas of which 30 were long and medium rotational fruit species, 15 were timber, 10 were fuel and 18 were short rotational medicinal species. Among the long and medium rotational fruit species, 35 percent respondents had mango trees, 29 percent had guava, 26 percent had betel nut and 24 percent had jackfruit, coconut and banana in their homesteads. Long and short rotational species that have medicinal values were not frequently grown in the crop field. However, a total of 41 plant species were identified in the crop field of the respondents that have medicinal value. Among them, eight were fruit, fourteen were timber and fuels species, and nineteen were short rotational herb species. The most commonly occurring medicinal species were Aonla, Haritaki, Bahera, lemon basil, asparagus, five leaved caste tree, arjun, margosa tree, raktodrone, indian dillenia, china rose, malabar nut tree, tamarind, cissus, Indian long pepper and air plant.

Knowledge Management: Journal