Crisis brings attention to potentials of herbs, plants

MANILA, Philippines – While the global crisis is reducing consumption across nations and social classes, causing massive unemployment and constricting the world economy to a precarious extent, other sectors are cashing in on some of its unexpected beneficial effects.

Among them is the herbs and plants sector, which is experiencing immense growth, according to Edsa Garden House consultant Pearl Banaag.

“Coupled with the thriving niche markets that promote and encourage healthy living for cosmopolitan lifestyles, herbs and plants are now slowly taking centerstage,” Banaag said.

The need for healthy living seems to conspire with the current need to cut cost in every possible aspect of today’s life, especially with the soaring prices of medicine and healthcare.

Much of this so-called healthy but actually less expensive lifestyle depends on the cost and quality of food, which herbs and plants are noted for.

Thus, the shift in consumer mindset in favor of herbs and plants is a boon to Edsa Garden House, which is nestled in the Manila Seedling Bank Environmental Center at the intersection of EDSA and Quezon Ave.

“We have the biggest greenhouse garden in the city. We house various medicinal and culinary herbs and plants that people are now regarding as beneficial and valuable,” Banaag explained.

She said that since five years ago, people have become more curious about herbal plants, encouraging the company to expand its other gardens — Yalang Trade and Green 2000 – and build the Edsa Garden House.

Patrons have also gone beyond being mere customers. They have eventually learned how to cultivate and propagate their own such that they are now selling their produce to their neighbors and other clients.

“One success story was that of a cancer survivor who got her treatment from our wheatgrass and other medicinal herbs, and went on to become an entrepreneur herself. She shared what she learned from herbs and plants until she realized the money-making potential of this industry,” Banaag recalled.

“Since then, more and more people, even OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), have embarked on this business, which doesn’t require a huge capital,” Banaag added.

This development is good news to the more than 12,000 OFWs who have lost their jobs since the start of the economic downturn last October. Growing and selling medicinal and culinary herbs and plants may just be the type of business for them.

The business potential of herbs and plants will be featured at the forthcoming Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink 2009, where Edsa Garden House will demonstrate the tricks of the trade.

Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink constitute the country’s biggest and most prestigious annual international trade show on agribusiness, food and aquaculture.

Supported by ABS-CBN as media partner, this year’s show is slated at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on Oct. 8 to 10.

Last year’s Agrilink saw Edsa Garden House demonstrating the culinary properties of herbs and how to grow them, including the proper way of making a health-giving juice out of wheatgrass.

“This year, we’re launching our first line of greenhouses, and introducing more herbs and plants for medicinal benefits and livelihood opportunities,” Banaag said.

More information on Agrilink can be obtained from the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (tel. 8384549, 8384605 and 8384491, or email frld@pldtdsl.net) –Philippine Star