KOCHI:
Promoting Kerala’s traditional wellness therapies and holistic medicinal practices, the ‘Ayurveda’ section drew impressive crowds at the three-day Vyapar 2017 here with international buyers showing a keen interest especially in Ayurvedic cosmetics and food supplements.
The participating sellers from the sector sounded quite upbeat about business enquiries from both domestic and international buyers.
“The main enquiries from the foreign participants are for the herbal hair oils and shampoos apart from the creams and face packs. Ayurvedic products are a protection against various infections and they also enhance the beauty. These are proven facts,” said Ajikumar T, a participant.
Dr Jitha Shaji, an Ayurveda medical practitioner, said there were many enquiries from Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka is promoting itself as a tourism destination similar to Kerala and the only product they lack is Ayurveda. Many of the delegates from that country showed interest in taking the Ayurveda to their nation,” he pointed out.
Pictorial charts displayed at some stalls explained about the basic health tips to prevent diseases, the types of medicine to be used and the lifestyle transformation as per the changing season to enhance the impact of treatments. The charts also displayed the medicinal values of traditional herbs and vegetables.
Small and Micro Enterprises (SME) at Vyapar 2017, an annual B2B meet organised by the Kerala government, showcased a range of wellness products made from ingredients that were used in granny home remedies.
“We have received potential enquiries for some of our patented products and medicines for skin diseases,” said Madhu P.S, a participating seller.
A Palakkad-based company makes 300 varieties of soaps, with ingredients like green gram, vetiver (bunchgrass), neem and hibiscus, and have a natural, rustic fragrance. “Our turmeric soap contains about 25 per cent natural turmeric, rather than just the essence as is found in other mass produced soaps,” said Arumughan Pathichira, General Manager, Happy Herbal Care.
A company in Perumbavoor has its own farm that produces aloe vera, turmeric and hibiscus, among other things, for a range of toiletries like soap, body wash, shampoo and oils. “There is a revival of interest in natural products and apart from selling online and locally, we export to GCC countries,” said Mary Joy, the proprietor.
