Top 15 Profitable Medicinal Herbs Farming Business Ideas

Are you searching for medicinal herbs farming business ideas? Find here a list of the most profitable medicinal herbs growing business opportunities for your ready reference.

The economic value of different types of herbs is very high. In addition, you can start different types of herbs growing with low capital investment. However, you must have a piece of land to start this type of business. Additionally, you must consider the agroclimatic condition of your locality. Generally, herbs are commercial cash crops in both developing and developed countries.

The demand for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics, etc is increasing globally. Basically, natural products are non-toxic, have fewer side effects, and are easily available at affordable prices.

Nowadays, there is a revival of interest in herbal-based medicine due to the increasing realization of the health hazards associated with the indiscriminate use of modern medicine. Therefore, starting a medical herbs farming business is a profitable venture for new entrepreneurs.

List of 15 Medicinal Herbs Farming Business Ideas

#1. Aloe vera – Aloe Barbadensis miller

Aloe Vera plants are basically tropical succulent plants. You can grow plants both in tropical and subtropical regions. A frost-free zone is perfect for aloe vera cultivation. In addition, it is an important and traditional medicinal herb. Aloe vera is a hardy perennial tropical plant.

Learn More: How to Start Aloe Vera Farming Business

#2. Aonla – Emblica Officinalis

Aonla is a sub-tropical crop and it prefers a dry subtropical climate. Additionally, heavy frost during the winter season is not suitable for its cultivation.  The crop is quite hardy, prolific bearer, and highly remunerative even without much care. The fruit is capsular (drupaceous) with a fleshy exocarp.

#3. Ashwagandha – Withania Somnifera

Ashwagandha is a branching shrub with a normal height of 1.4 to 1.5 meters. Another popular name for ashwagandha is a wonder herb. Because this plant has multiple medicinal properties. Ashwagandha naturally occurs in all areas of South Asia up to a moderate altitude. However, it is also native to the Middle East and North Africa.

Learn More: How To Start Ashwagandha Farming Business

#4. Basil – Ocimum basilicum

Basil is a tender plant. And it is best known as a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine. Basil is very sensitive to cold, with the best growth in hot, dry conditions. Additionally, the plant is commonly known as “Queen of Herbs”.

#5. Calendula – Calendula officinalis

Calendula is commonly known as marigold. Additionally, the plant has huge medicinal properties. It is easy to grow. Even, you can grow the plant in a pot culture. However, the plant demands regular irrigation.

#6. Chamomile – Matricaria Recutita

Chamomile has vast economic importance in the medical, cosmetics, and food processing industries. The chamomile flowers contain an array of phytonutrients, including flavonoids, terpenes, and glucosides. Generally, chamomile is tolerant to different soil types. However, it grows best on rich, heavy soils.

#7. Jatamansi – Nardostachys Jatamansi

Jatamansi is one of the most important medicinal herbs. The rhizome of Jatamansi has high medicinal value. Additionally, the extracted essential oil from the rhizomes is highly popular in perfumery. Generally, European and North American countries are the major importers of Jatamansi.

#8. Lavender – Lavandula

Commercial lavender farming is profitable. However, you must obtain proper marketing techniques. In addition, you can achieve a plant protection system in a much easier way. Furthermore, lavender ranks high as a sustainable crop. France, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Australia, and the Mediterranean regions are the major producers of lavender essential oils. 

#9. Lemongrass – Cymbopogon

Lemongrass grows well in both tropical and subtropical climates. However, ideal conditions for growing lemongrass are warm and humid climates with sufficient sunshine and 250-330 cm of rainfall per annum. Depending upon soil and climatic conditions, the plantation lasts on average, for 4 to 5 years. The major importing countries of lemongrass essential oil are West Europe, the U.S.A., and Japan.

#10. Patchouli – Pogostemon cablin

The patchouli plant is a perennial, small bushy herb that yields fragrant leaves containing very sweet-smelling oil. The leaves are simple, ovate to oblong-ovate, leathery, dentate margins pale to purplish-green in color. The oil has strong fixative properties and blends very well with oils of sandalwood, geranium, vetiver, clove, etc. Additionally, it gives strength and tenacity for making heavy perfumes of lasting odor.

#11. Safed Musli – Chlorophytum Borivilianum

Safed Musli is a medicinal plant with little white flowers. It is a potentially profitable business even for small farmers. The plant requires well-drained loamy to sandy loam soils rich in organic matter. Warm and humid climatic conditions with a good amount of soil moisture during the growing season favor luxuriant vegetative growth and facilitate fleshy root development.

#12. Sarpagandha – Rauvolfia Serpentina

Sarpagandha is an important medicinal plant. The plant requires slightly acidic to neutral soils for good growth with medium to deep well-drained fertile soils. Clay-loam to silt-loam soils, rich in organic content suitable for commercial cultivation. It grows well in frost-free tropical to subtropical
situations under irrigation.

#13. Stevia – Stevia Rebaudiana

Stevia is native to tropical and subtropical regions of North America and South America. There are about 240 species of the Stevia Genus. It is grown widely in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Generally, stevia is popular for sweet leaves. As the demand for low-carbohydrate sweeteners is rising day by day, the demand for stevia is also increasing.

#14. Vanilla – Vanilla planifolia

Vanilla is a fleshy perennial orchid. Traditionally, Vanilla requires warm and moist conditions with well-distributed rainfall of 150 to 300 cm with a temperature range of 25 to 32oC. It is one of the costliest herbs in the market after saffron.

#15. Yashtimadhu – Glycyrrhiza glabra

Yashtimadhu is a perennial herb that grows to over a meter and a half tall. It is cultivated for its roots, the plant has an extensive root system. Another popular name for this plant is ‘Mulethi’. Licorice roots, besides having a sweet anise-like flavor are also beneficial to health with medicinal properties.

Apart from this list, there are several herbs you can find globally. However, it is important to identify the demand for the herb before growing. We hope, this list of profitable medicinal herbs farming business ideas will help you in starting and growing the herbs business.