The Applications and Obstacles of Industrial Development of Medicinal Plants: The Case of Boyer-Ahmad County

Due to the growing population and the use of pesticides and chemicals in food production, people's health has received more attention than ever before. The side effects of chemical drugs have led the world community to turn to medicinal herbs and drugs of natural origin. Consequently, interest in herbal remedies has become more prevalent among different societies, earning the 20th century the moniker of the "century of return to nature." Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the applications and barriers to the industrial development of medicinal plants in Boyer-Ahmad County. The statistical population of the study consisted of individuals knowledgeable about medicinal plants in the Boyer-Ahmad region, including specialists, local experts, and sellers of medicinal plants. Purposeful sampling was conducted using the snowball technique. Interviews and a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire were utilized to collect the required data. The results indicated 65 important medicinal plants, including thyme, anchovy, yarrow, and corm, categorized into three types: medicinal, aromatic, and spicy. The findings revealed that barriers to the industrial development of medicinal plants included lack of government support, infrastructure deficiencies, scarcity of wild herbs, shortage of academic experts, reluctance of indigenous farmers to cultivate medicinal plants, and inadequate financial facilities at low interest rates.