Demand and challenges for the sustainability of medicinal plant marketing in Cajamarca, Peru

The demand and sustainability challenges of medicinal plant marketing in Cajamarca, Peru, were assessed. Ninety-six semi-structured interviews were conducted, proportionally distributed across 12 districts, along with market observations. One hundred and thirty-one taxa (49 families) were documented. Demand reached 8278 bundles/day and 248340 bundles/month; conversion by species and part was estimated at 70875.9 kg/month (70.88 t), and, with a 15% replacement allowance for losses, 81507.3 kg/month (81.50 t). The volume was concentrated in fruits and seeds (1.00 kg/bundle) and in fresh roots. Musa × paradisiaca(6300 kg/month), Citrus × aurantiifolia(4500 kg/month), Persea americana(3000 kg/month), and Passiflora edulis (2400 kg/month) stood out. It is concluded that the trade flow depends on a few high-volume species and that sustainability requiresadopting good cultivation and post-harvest practices, traceability, and, where appropriate, a cold chain, in addition to increased cultivation and local governance.