First Deputy Minister of Water Management and Agricultural Development Zhanibek Kerimaliev pointed out plants such as valerian, calendula, sage, saffron, ferula, aconite, arnebia, rhodiola rosea, licorice, sea buckthorn, rosehip, barberry, thyme, chamomile, and St. John's wort that may be permitted for cultivation.
He also provided an example with ferula, the demand for which is growing. People have started cultivating it at home for sale. According to him, the price per kilogram of this plant ranges from $200 to $500, making it a profitable business. In the Batken region, for example, there are already three plots where ferula is grown using drip irrigation.
Deputy Zhyldyz Sadyrbaeva suggested expanding the list of permitted medicinal plants to not be limited to just 15 species.
Kamila Talieva, her colleague, expressed concern about aconite, which is also included in the list. She noted that this poisonous plant should not be allowed for home cultivation, as improper use could lead to poisoning. Talieva insists on the need for separate regulation for such plants.
