Programmes for the promotion of home herbal gardens: what challenges ahead?

In recent years, increasing attention has been given to home herbal gardens (HHG) and numerous projects have been carried out. Despite this, the active participation of villagers in the cultivation of medicinal plants in HHGs is not very high. The present article analyses the challenges faced by local communities in participating in HHG programmes, paying particular attention to cultural aspects and caste and gender components. The article concludes by illustrating how development interventions in the domain of HHGs can be enhanced for the promotion of local livelihoods and health of rural communities.