**Executive Summary**
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of Ayush, is implementing a Central Sector Scheme to conserve and sustainably manage medicinal plants, with a focus on strengthening tribal livelihoods. In Odisha, this initiative has supported numerous projects including herbal gardens, nurseries, and training programs, with specific activities documented in the Mayurbhanj District. The scheme emphasizes infrastructure for value addition, market access through the "e-CHARAK" digital platform, and the adoption of standardized agricultural practices.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Scheme Objectives and Activities**
* **Conservation Efforts:** Implementation of in-situ conservation through Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) and ex-situ conservation via herbal gardens.
* **Resource Augmentation:** Enhancing medicinal plant resources through both in-situ and ex-situ methods.
* **Livelihood and Supply Chain:** Establishing linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), Panchayats, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to support marketing, trade, and supply chain management.
* **Research and Education:** Funding for Research & Development (R&D) and Information Education & Communication (IEC) activities, including workshops and seminars.
**Implementation in Odisha and Mayurbhanj**
* **Project Distribution:** Odisha has received support for 27 conservation projects, 10 herbal gardens, 6 nurseries, and 16 IEC initiatives.
* **Mayurbhanj Specifics:** The district hosts 1 herbal garden, 1 nursery/quality planting material campaign, and 2 training programs.
* **Regional Support:** The Regional Cum Facilitation Centre (RCFC) for the East Region has conducted 6 stakeholder meets and 11 training programs across the state.
**Infrastructure and Technical Support**
* **Cluster Development:** Support is provided for setting up local clusters focused on value addition, drying, warehousing, and augmenting marketing infrastructure.
* **Quality Standards:** RCFCs provide Quality Planting Material (QPM) and offer training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs).
* **State Initiatives:** The Government of Odisha organizes Kalinga Herbal Fairs and provides technical support and exposure visits to enhance income for tribal farmers.
**Digital Trade Platform**
* **e-CHARAK App:** A mobile application and web portal launched to facilitate the promotion, marketing, and exchange of information regarding medicinal plants.
* **Market Intelligence:** The platform supports multiple local languages and provides fortnightly market prices for 100 medicinal plants from 25 herbal markets across India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Farmers and Forest Fringe Communities**
**Impact:**
They benefit from generated livelihood opportunities, improved market access, and enhanced income through value addition and infrastructure support (drying and warehousing).
**Action Required:**
Engage with local clusters and JFMCs to utilize provided infrastructure and adopt GAPs/GFCPs for better crop quality.
**Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / SHGs / Panchayats**
**Impact:**
These bodies act as intermediaries receiving project-based support to establish local clusters and strengthen livelihood linkages.
**Action Required:**
Coordinate with State Forest Departments to implement supported activities and manage local marketing infrastructure.
**National and State Medicinal Plants Boards**
**Impact:**
Responsible for the strategic implementation, technical support, and oversight of the Central Sector Scheme and regional training.
**Action Required:**
Continue providing technical guidance, distributing IEC materials, and maintaining the e-CHARAK digital infrastructure.
**Traders and Stakeholders in the Medicinal Plant Sector**
**Impact:**
Access to a centralized platform (e-CHARAK) for information exchange and real-time market pricing.
**Action Required:**
Utilize the e-CHARAK portal/app to monitor market prices and engage in the trade of medicinal produce.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants: The primary national initiative providing project-based support for the conservation, resource augmentation, and sustainable management of medicinal plants.
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): The primary agency responsible for implementing conservation schemes and providing technical support for the medicinal plants sector.
e-CHARAK: A mobile application and web portal launched to facilitate information exchange, trade, and market access for farmers and stakeholders in the medicinal plants sector.
Ministry of Ayush: The central ministry overseeing the National Medicinal Plants Board and the overarching policy framework for medicinal plant cultivation.
Odisha (including Mayurbhanj District): The specific geographic focus where various projects, including herbal gardens and conservation initiatives, are being implemented under the central scheme.
AYUSH
Conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants
in tribal areas
Boost to Medicinal Plant Cultivation Strengthens Tribal
Livelihoods and Conservation Efforts
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 2:58PM by PIB Delhi
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush is presently implementing “Central
Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants”
throughout the country including the State of Odisha. Under the scheme, the project based support is
provided for following activities:
i. In-situ conservation through development of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development
Areas (MPCDAs).
ii. In-situ/Ex-situ resource augmentation.
iii. Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gardens.
iv. Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van
Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc.
v. IEC activities like Training / workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc.
vi. Research & Development.
vii. Promotion of marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
viii. Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants.
The activity wise number of projects supported under the above scheme in state of Odisha including
Mayurbhanj District are as below:
Sr. Activities Supported No. of Project No. of project
No. Supported supported in
Mayurbhanj District
1. Conservation, Resource Augmentation and 27 -
support to Joint Forest Management
Committees (JFMCs) etc.
2. Herbal Garden 10 01
3. Nursery/Quality Planting Material/ species 06 01
specific campaign4. Information Education & Communication 16 -
(IEC)
5. Research and Development (R&D) 02 -
6. Activities supported through Regional Cum
Facilitation Centers (East Region) of NMPB
i. Stakeholders Meet 06 -
ii. Training Programmes 11 02
(b) and (c): Under the above Central Sector Scheme, project based support is provided through State Forest
Departments to Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)/Panchayats/ Van Panchayat/SHGs/BMCs
etc. for setting of local cluster for value addition, drying, warehousing and augmenting marketing
infrastructure etc. and generate livelihood to these forest fringe communities including tribal farmers.
These initiatives / activities supported under the above Central Sector Scheme have helped in promoting
cultivation, Conservation and livelihood opportunities for farmers including those from tribal regions also.
To strengthen medicinal plants cultivation, market access and income enhancement of the farmers across
the country including tribal regions, NMPB, Ministry of Ayush through its Regional Cum Facilitation
Centres (RCFCs) provide Quality Planting Material (QPM) of medicinal plants and impart training on
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs). In addition, the
Government of Odisha has taken steps by conducting awareness programmes through training/ seminars/
workshops, State level & Regional Level Kalinga Herbal Fairs, distribution of IEC materials and exposure
visit to strengthen medicinal plant cultivation, market access and income enhancement in tribal regions.
The State Medicinal Plants Board, Odisha is also providing technical support for cultivation of medicinal
plants.
To provide a platform for trade of medicinal plants & easy market access, the NMPB, Ministry of Ayush
has launched “e-CHARAK” mobile application as well as web portal for the promotion and marketing of
medicinal plants/herbs. The “e-CHARAK” is a platform to enable information exchange between various
stakeholders mainly farmers involved in the medicinal plants sector across the country. The “e-CHARAK”
application supports different local languages and it also provides a fortnightly market price of 100 MPs
from 25 herbal markets across India.
This information was given by the Minister of State (IC) for Ayush Shri Pratap Rao Jadhav in a
written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 17th MARCH 2026.
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SR/SV
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