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Medicinal plants have been heavily used in traditional medicine.However, most farmers are reluctant to grow medicinal plants due to various reasons.This case study was aimed to analyse the present status, potential, and distribution of forty two medicinal plants in the Karandeniya DS division in Galle district and make suggestions to promote medicinal plant cultivation.In this study, medicinal plants were selected based on priority to conserve (threaten MP, endangered, rare, cultivated species) and economic importance (value added MP).The snowball sampling technique was used to select the samples of 50 households from five GN divisions.Primary data were collected through a field survey using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, and GPS data was collected through GPS coordinates App.Descriptive statistical methods and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were employed to analyze the primary data and GPS data was analyzed by Arc GIS software.The results revealed that the majority of respondents (64%) cultivate medicinal plants at a small-scale level for domestic usage.Some respondents (12%) cultivate medicinal plants for the preparation of value-added products and generate income by selling them.Among them, 64% of respondents are producing turmeric powder, 10 % are producing ginger powder, and8% produce medicinal oil as value-added products at household level.Further, it was revealed that 74% of respondents are willing to produce value-added products, and 90% are willing to expand their medicinal plant cultivation.Overall satisfaction level on medicinal plant cultivation is high where the mean value is 3.76 (1=very low and 5= very high).Results of the Wilcoxon sign rank test showed that respondent's attitudes on medicinal plant cultivation were significant (p<0.05).
R.R. et al. (Wed,) studied this question.