**Executive Summary**
This document is a response by the Minister of AYUSH to Unstarred Question No. †1158 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 6, 2026, concerning the cultivation of medicinal plants in India. It details financial assistance, export quantities, government steps to promote Ayurvedic medicine production, and centrally sponsored schemes for farmers cultivating medicinal plants over the last three years. Annexures provide additional details.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Assistance and Schemes:**
* The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare implements the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), providing assistance for area expansion of short duration medicinal plants.
* ₹548.52 Lakhs was allocated in 2025-26 to states for area expansion of identified medicinal crops under MIDH. Details in Annexure I.
* The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) encourages cultivation through Regional Cum Facilitation Centres (RCFCs), distributing quality planting material (QPM) to growers. Financial assistance details are in Annexure-II.
* The Ministry of Ayush implemented a Central Sector Scheme: Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY).
* Approved on 16.03.2021, with a budget of ₹122.00 crores for five years.
* Objectives include enhancing India's manufacturing capabilities and exports of traditional medicines, standardizing quality, and strengthening regulatory frameworks.
* Detailed guidelines are available at https://ayush.gov.in/images/Schemes/aoushdhi.pdf
* Previously, the Ministry of Ayush implemented the medicinal plants component under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) from 2015-16 to 2020-21. Annexure-IV shows funding released to different states under NAM.
* **Export of Medicinal Plants:**
* Export data not maintained at NMPB; trade value of medicinal plants recorded under HS-Code 1211 is provided for 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, with growth percentages.
* 2022-23: ₹3,499.53 Cr, 10.91% growth
* 2023-24: ₹4,030.64 Cr, 15.18% growth
* 2024-25: ₹4,508.54 Cr, 11.86% growth
* (Source: https://tradestat.commerce.gov.in/eidb/commodity\_wise\_export)
* Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXIL) shared the quantum of medicinal plants exported to the top 15 destinations; details in Annexure –III.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers/Growers**
* **Impact:** Farmers and growers can benefit from schemes such as MIDH and NMPB, receiving assistance for area expansion and quality planting material.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should explore opportunities under MIDH for assistance with medicinal crop cultivation and contact RCFCs for quality planting material.
**Stakeholder: Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** The AOGUSY scheme aims to enhance manufacturing capabilities and quality control in the production of Ayurvedic drugs.
* **Action Required:** Manufacturers should review the AOGUSY guidelines for opportunities to improve manufacturing standards and access support for quality assurance.
**Stakeholder: National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) and Regional Cum Facilitation Centres (RCFCs)**
* **Impact:** NMPB and RCFCs play a crucial role in promoting cultivation and distributing planting material. RCFCs receive financial assistance.
* **Action Required:** NMPB and RCFCs need to continue encouraging cultivation through quality planting material distribution, utilizing allocated financial assistance effectively.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare**
* **Impact:** Key ministry responsible for promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme.
* **Action Required:** Continue to effectively implement and monitor the MIDH scheme to support farmers in cultivating medicinal plants, ensuring that allocated funds are properly utilized and that the program's objectives are met.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The primary ministry responsible for policies related to Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy in India.
National Ayush Mission (NAM): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of AYUSH to promote the cultivation of Medicinal Plants from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for holistic growth of the horticulture sector, including medicinal plants.
Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY): A Central Sector Scheme implemented by Ministry of Ayush to enhance India's manufacturing capabilities and exports of traditional medicines.
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): Organization under the Ministry of AYUSH that encourages cultivation of medicinal plants and herbs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1158
ANSWERED ON 06/02/2026
“Cultivation of Medicinal Plants”
†1158. Shri Sanatan Pandey:
Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the financial assistance provided to encourage the cultivation of medicinal plants
and herbs in the country during each of the last three years;
(b) the quantum of medicinal plants exported from the country during the said period;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to promote the production of Ayurvedic medicines and
herbs in the country; and
(d) the details of the centrally sponsored schemes implemented to encourage farmers to cultivate
medicinal plants, along with the State-wise details of the funds spent thereunder during the last
three years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH) - Centrally Sponsored Scheme for holistic growth of the
horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers,
aromatic and medicinal plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo throughout the country.
1Under MIDH scheme, provision has been made for providing assistance for area expansion of
short duration medicinal plants i.e. non-perennial in nature and non-tree species. During 2025-26, an
amount of Rs. 548.52 Lakhs has been allocated to various States for area expansion of identified
medicinal crops. Details of cost norms alongwith the pattern of assistance is given at Annexure – I.
Besides this, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) through its Regional Cum Facilitation
Centres (RCFCs) encourages the cultivation of medicinal plants and herbs by distributing quality
planting material (QPM) to growers / farmers in the country. The details of the financial assistance
sanctioned during last three years to the RCFCs for the development of QPM of medicinal plants is
given at Annexure-II.
(b) Data for Export of medicinal plants is not maintained at NMPB. However, the value of the
trade of Medicinal Plants recorded under Chapter 12 of HS-Code 1211(PLNTS AND PRTS OF
PLNTS INCLD SEDS AND FRUTS USD FOR PRFUMRY PHRMACY/INSCTCIDL OR SMLR
PUR FRSH/DRID, CHLD/FROZ W/N CUT CRSHD) are given below:
Year 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Export (in Cr) 3,499.53 4,030.64 4,508.54
Growth (%) 10.91 15.18 11.86
(Source:https://tradestat.commerce.gov.in/eidb/commodity_wise_export)
Besides this, Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXIL) has shared
the quantum of medicinal plants exported from the country to the top 15 export destination during the
said period. The detail is given at Annexure –III.
(c) Ministry of Ayush has implemented a Central Sector Scheme Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta
evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), approved by Standing Finance Committee (SFC) on
16.03.2021. The total Budget allocation to this scheme is Rs. 122.00 crores for five years. The
objectives of the Scheme are as under;
i. To enhance India's manufacturing capabilities and exports of traditional medicines and health
promotion products under the initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
2ii. To facilitate adequate infrastructural & technological upgradation and institutional activities in
public and private sector for standardization, quality manufacturing and analytical testing of
Ayush drugs & materials.
iii. To strengthen regulatory frameworks at Central and State level for effective quality control,
safety monitoring and surveillance of misleading advertisements of Ayush drugs.
iv. To encourage building up synergies, collaborations and convergent approaches for promoting
standards and quality of Ayush drugs & materials.
Detailed guidelines are available at https://ayush.gov.in/images/Schemes/aoushdhi.pdf
(d) Presently, there is no scheme for cultivation of medicinal plants in National Medicinal Plants
Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush. However, in the past, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
had implemented the medicinal plants component under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National
Ayush Mission (NAM) from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21 to promote the cultivation of
Medicinal Plants throughout the country. As per the scheme guidelines, the support was provided for:
i. Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land.
ii. Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supply of quality planting
material.
iii. Post-harvest management with forwarding linkages.
iv. Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.
The detail of fund released to the different states for implementation of medicinal plants
component under National Ayush Mission (NAM) Scheme is given at Annexure-IV.
**********
3Annexure –I
Name of the Component Cost Norms Pattern of Assistance
Medicinal Plants Rs. 1.5 Lakh/ha Assistance @ 40% in general areas for an area
(Mulethi, Shatavari, upto 2 ha. on pro rata basis for meeting the
Kalihari, Shwet Musali, expenditure on planting material and cost of
Guggle, Manjishtha, material for Integrated Nutrient Management
Kutki, Atees, Jatamansi, / Integrated Pest Management etc. in 2
Ashwagandha, Brahmi, instalments of 60:40
Tulsi, Vidarikand,
Pippali, Chirata, In the case of North East & Himalayan States,
Pushkarmool) Scheduled areas including TSP (Tribal Sub
Plan) areas, vibrant villages, Andaman &
Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, assistance
will be @ 50% for an area upto 2 ha. on pro
rata basis.
4Annexure-II
S.N. Name of Financial Assistance (Rs. in Lakhs)
RCFC 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 RCFC (NR-I) 30.00 30.00 30.00
2 RCFC (NR-II) 30.00 30.00 30.00
3 RCFC (SR) 30.00 30.00 30.00
4 RCFC (ER) 30.00 30.00 30.00
5 RCFC (WR) 30.00 - 30.00
6 RCFC (NER) 30.00 - 30.00
7 RCFC (CR) 30.00 - -
Total 210.00 120.00 180.00
5Annexure-III
TOP 15 EXPORT DESTINATIONS
Panel: Plants &
Plant Portions F.Y. 2022-2023 F.Y. 2023-2024 F.Y. 2023-2024
(Herbs)
Sl.
Country Qty KGS
1 U S A 27984240 23739029 32370175
2 Germany 12617380 10892809 14051229
3 Italy 2955810 3404815 5861209
4 China P RP 15899180 11685728 11214061
5 U K 2343860 1682309 2040817
6 U Arab EMTS 5508210 3849070 5588868
7 Bangladesh PR 12431150 8921605 12976179
8 France 1427510 972237 2148119
9 Netherland 3888850 4618805 4181273
10 Canada 1309140 2272295 3006475
11 Russia 903950 958808 2039942
12 Mexico 2716050 1704600 2143569
13 Korea RP 1448210 1307412 1256046
14 Australia 1126760 1106270 1227167
15 Japan 1305340 1805688 1912037
Top 15 Countries Export
93865640 78921480 102017166
Total
GRAND TOTAL 129856760 113287312 140469881
6Annexure-IV
Fund released for implementation of medicinal plant cultivation related activities under
medicinal plants component of National Ayush Mission - Centrally Sponsored Scheme from the
F.Y. 2015-16 to 2020-21
(Rs. In lakh)
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
S.No Name of State
Fund Released
1. Andhra Pradesh 133.78 457.16 211.87 128.59 314.91 -
2. Arunachal Pradesh - 42.78 61.11 36.86 46.01 26.78
3. Assam - 120.24 393.25 189.12 - -
4. Bihar - - - - 287.2 -
5. Chhattisgarh - 152.63 178.21 107.86 - -
6. Gujarat 168.42 212.19 158.70 308.71 - -
7. Goa - 14.47 26.59 22.94 38.74 -
8. Haryana 51.68 69.19 - - - -
9. Himachal Pradesh 61.98 170.07 75.54 63.75 128.94 -
10. Jammu & Kashmir 54.89 55.17 80.25 49.54 106.04 22.52
11. Karnataka 137.2 203.33 219.34 148.1 157.4 220.97
12. Kerala 126.52 168.68 259.66 162.55 - 221.77
13. Madhya Pradesh 306.91 496.38 450.28 334.46 516.87 230.17
14. Maharashtra 205.88 - 355.01 - 409.11 -
15. Manipur 60.8 70.88 85.50 79.08 40.83 -
16. Meghalaya - 45.02 91.48 - 45.03 -
17. Mizoram 14.38 44.32 97.51 62.14 25.2 14.65
18. Nagaland 60.41 41.38 100.89 63.2 - 33.97
19. Orissa - 117.55 - 161.31 - -
20. Punjab - 129.66 - 61.22 148.15 -
21. Puducherry - 4.96 - 13.84 6.78 -
22. Rajasthan 113.53 226.06 747.85 272.38 521.6 -
723. Sikkim 30.73 31.71 24.98 - - 18.99
24. Tamil Nadu 144.22 252.71 228.28 173.09 305.99 -
25. Telangana 111.32 252.09 118.29 71.87 177.9 -
26. Tripura 36.06 - - 47.88 - -
27. Uttar Pradesh 720.01 528.17 249.18 912.04 - 209.82
28. Uttrakhand 60.47 195.37 130.15 75.67 182.1 -
29. West Bengal 180.63 184.94 201.98 194.7 372.73 -
Total 2779.82 4287.11 4545.9 3740.9 3831.53 999.64
8