Chhattisgarh to Emerge as a Major Hub for Herbal and Ayurvedic Products

By: G.S. Kesharwani, Deputy Director | Raipur : Chhattisgarh is poised to become a leading center for the production and processing of herbal and Ayurvedic products in India. A state-of-the-art central processing unit has been established in Jamgaon (M), Durg district—the largest and most modern facility of its kind in central India. This unit will process minor forest produce (MFP) sourced from the state’s forests at the local level. Annually, this facility is expected to produce and process Ayurvedic medicinal products worth approximately ₹50 crore. It has been developed by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation.

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vocal for Local” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision, the Chhattisgarh government is actively encouraging local entrepreneurs to develop high-quality herbal and Ayurvedic products. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, there is a special focus on the processing and value addition of forest produce. The state’s new industrial policy also identifies forest produce processing units as a “thrust sector” and provides special incentives to promote them.

The newly established central processing facility at Jamgaon marks the beginning of the “Forest to Pharmacy” model in the state. Inaugurated recently by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the facility spans over 27.87 acres. Equipped with pharmaceutical-grade machinery, it will produce Ayurvedic and herbal medicines in modern forms including powders, syrups, oils, pastes, and tablets. The unit’s machine installation, operations, and marketing will be conducted on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Infrastructure such as quarantine buildings, pre-processing buildings, material storage units, and the main plant have been constructed with an investment of ₹36.47 crore.

Additionally, a separate Herbal Extraction Unit has been set up over 6.04 acres at a cost of ₹23.24 crore. This facility is designed to extract herbal compounds using advanced machinery from various medicinal plants such as Giloy, Kalmegh, Baheda, Safed Musli, Wild Turmeric, Gudmar, Ashwagandha, and Shatavari. The extracts will be used in the formulation of Ayurvedic medicines and wellness products.

The Jamgaon Central Processing Unit is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for more than 2,000 local people. Tribal and forest-dwelling communities, especially women, will benefit from increased job opportunities and income through the collection and primary processing of forest produce.

This initiative is set to transform Chhattisgarh into a national powerhouse for Ayurvedic and herbal industries, while also uplifting rural and tribal livelihoods.