Investigating the Medicinal Plant Researcher’s and Expert’s Views on the Priorities of Entrepreneurial Investment in Medicinal Plant Industry Development in Sistan and Baluchestan Province by Private Sector

Medicinal plants are the natural treasure of any country. It has a great impact on improving the health and cultural indicators of Socio-economic. Drought and water shortage crisis has introduced the development of production and processing of medicinal plants with low water requirement as one of the most important areas of agricultural development in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Due to the limited public financial resources and the importance of the role of the private sector, the goal of the research was to identify the Entrepreneurial Investment priorities in this industry and its research priorities in this province.

In this research was used mixed research method. It is the approach of qualitative and quantitative research method. The statistical population was researchers and experts in the field of medicinal plants in the province. The study sample was 10 medicinal plant experts for qualitative section and 30 researchers and experts in the field of medicinal plants in the province in the quantitative section. The research tool in quantitative was a structured questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed in the quantitative section. The 27 medicinal plants in the country have a more comparative advantage and the private sector can invest in 21 areas in the qualitative sector. The "compiling a comprehensive program of research on medicinal plants" and "preparing an Entrepreneurial Investment and employment map in the medicinal plants industry" are the most important infrastructure programs for the development of this industry in the province. Also, the two research topics are "Market Development and Export" and "Processing". On the other hand, Moringa peregrina, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Terebinth (Pistacia atlantica), Teucrium polium, Nigella sativa, Ferula Assa-Foetida and Glycyrrhiza glabra were the top seven and most talented medicinal plants in the province for Entrepreneurial Investment. Also, improved seed production, creation of a marketing and sales network, and increased outdoor production performance were Entrepreneurial Investment priorities in the development process of the province's medicinal plants industry. According to the research results in order to organize and increase the productivity of the medicinal plants industry in the province, need to be developed and implemented. "Comprehensive Medicinal Plants Research Program", "Investment and Employment Plan in Medicinal Plants", "Comprehensive Medicinal Plants Production Plan", "Comprehensive Export Program Medicinal plants”, “Comprehensive program to promote the use of medicinal plants" and "Special research program for the production of new herbal medicines". Also in the next 10 years, the private sector will invest in improving the quantity and quality of the international marketing and sales network, producing improved seeds, establishing a marketing and domestic sales network, managing the production and harvesting of pastures and greenhouse production of medicinal plants: Moringa peregrina, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Terebinth (Pistacia atlantica), Teucrium polium, Nigella sativa, Ferula Assa-Foetida and Glycyrrhiza glabra.