**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of AYUSH's response to questions regarding the promotion of medicinal plant cultivation in India. It outlines ongoing schemes, financial assistance (or lack thereof), surveys conducted, and research commissioned. The response references activities planned up to the financial year 2024-25. The questions were submitted to Lok Sabha on 05/12/2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Promotion of Medicinal Plant Cultivation:**
* The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, implements a Central Sector Scheme for "Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants."
* Supported activities include:
* Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities.
* Forward and backward linkage in the supply chain, including infrastructure for quality planting material, farmer awareness, post-harvest management, marketing, and quality testing.
* *In-situ* and *ex-situ* conservation.
* Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees, Panchayats, Biodiversity Management Committees, and Self Help Groups.
* Research & Development.
* Promotion, marketing, and trade of medicinal plant produce.
* NMPB approved 139 projects for training programs/seminars/workshops from 2020-21 to 2024-25, with funding of Rs. 1161.96 Lakh.
* Regional-cum-Facilitation Centres (RCFCs) provide Quality Planting Material (QPM) and training on Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) & Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs).
* **Financial Assistance:**
* No financial assistance or assistance for the sale of produce is provided directly to farmers.
* The “e-CHARAK” mobile application and web portal provides a platform for trade and market access of medicinal plants/herbs.
* **Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):**
* Under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provides assistance for area expansion of short duration medicinal plants.
* Assistance @ 40% in general areas for an area upto 2 ha.on pro rata basis for meeting the expenditure on planting material and cost of material for INM/IPM etc. in 2 instalments of 60:40
* Assistance @ 50% for an area upto2 ha. on pro rata basis to the NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas including TSP (Tribal Sub Plan) areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands
* **Surveys for Rare Species:**
* The Government of India has conducted surveys to identify rare, endangered, and threatened species of medicinal plants, primarily through the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
* Reported findings:
* Over 8,000 species of medicinal plants found in India.
* Over 5,250 plant species identified, with over 9,567 folk claims documented.
* Identification of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant species and documented about 2034 ethnobotanical information.
* **Research on Medicinal Plants:**
* NMPB provides project-based financial support for research activities to government and private institutions.
* The Indian Council for Agriculture Research- Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (ICAR-DMAPR) and the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP-MAPB) are actively engaged in research and development, with AICRP-MAPB having 28 centres across the country.
* Details of specific projects supported by NMPB on properties and effects of medicinal plants during the last five years are provided in Annexure-I.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers Engaged in Medicinal Plant Cultivation**
* **Impact:** Farmers benefit from schemes promoting cultivation through training, access to quality planting material, and marketing platforms. Lack of direct financial assistance for produce sales.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the “e-CHARAK” platform for marketing and trade. Participate in training and workshops offered through NMPB and RCFCs.
**Stakeholder: Government and Private Research Institutions/Organizations**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to receive project-based financial support from NMPB for research on medicinal plants.
* **Action Required:** Apply for funding through NMPB for relevant research projects.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** Greater availability and access to medicinal plants and related products through promoted cultivation and research.
* **Action Required:** None specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The ministry responsible for promoting and developing traditional medicine systems in India, including medicinal plants.
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): A board under the Ministry of AYUSH that implements the Central Sector Scheme for conservation, development and sustainable management of medicinal plants.
Central Sector Scheme on ‘Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants': A scheme implemented by NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): A centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, which includes support for medicinal plants.
Botanical Survey of India (BSI): An organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for conducting surveys and studies to identify rare, endangered, and threatened species of medicinal plants and herbs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED ADMITTED QUESTION NO. 976
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/12/2025
Promoting cultivation of medicinal plants
976 Dr. Anand Kumar:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) the steps being taken by the Government to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants
in the country;
(b) whether financial assistance or assistance for the sale of produce is being provided to
farmers engaged in the cultivation of medicinal plants and if so, the numbers of farmers
benefitted therefrom across the country, including Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details
thereof;
(c) the details of the schemes formulated/to be formulated to promote the cultivation of
medicinal plants/herbs/ rare plants in the country;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any survey to identify rare species of medicinal
plants and herbs and if so, the details and the findings thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has commissioned any research on properties and effects of
medicinal plants during the last five years and if so, the details and the findings thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) Presently, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, Government of
India is implementing Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and
Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” throughout the country to promote the
cultivation of medicinal plants wherein following activities are supported:(i) Information Education & Communication (IEC) activities like Training /
Workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc.
(ii) Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants (Integrated
Component) under which the following activities are supported:
Infrastructure for Quality Planting Material to raise the planting material of
medicinal plants for cultivation.
Information Education Communication (IEC) activities to aware the farmers.
Infrastructure for Post-Harvest Management and Marketing to increase the
marketability of the medicinal plants, adding value to the produce,
increasing profitability and reducing losses.
Quality Testing and Certification of raw material.
(iii) In-situ conservation / Ex-situ conservation.
(iv) Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) /
Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) /
Self Help Groups (SHGs).
(v) Research & Development.
(vi) Promotion, marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
NMPB, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has approved 139 projects for
organizing training program/seminars/workshops for promotion of cultivation of medicinal
plants throughout the country during the financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25, for an amount of
Rs.1161.96 Lakh. Apart from it, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), through its
Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre (RCFCs) located at different regions of the country provide
Quality Planting Material (QPM) of medicinal plants to farmers/ growers to promote
cultivation of medicinal plants in the country. In addition, through these RCFCs training &
workshops on Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) & Good Field Collection Practices
(GFCPs) are also organized from time to time.
(b) There is no financial assistance or assistance for the sale of produce, being provided to
farmers engaged in the cultivation of medicinal plants. However, to provide a platform for
trade of medicinal plants & to provide easy market access, National Medicinal Plants Board
(NMPB), Ministry of Ayush has launched “e-CHARAK” Mobile application as well as web
portal for the promotion and marketing of medicinal plants/herbs. e-CHARAK is a platformto enable information exchange between various stakeholders mainly farmers involved in the
medicinal plants sector across the country. The e-CHARAK application is available in
different local languages and also provides fortnightly market price of 100 MPs from 25
herbal markets across India.
(c) Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), under Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented for
holistic growth of the horticulture sector including medicinal plants throughout the country.
Under 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. Details of
cost norms alongwith the pattern of assistance are as under:
S. Name of the Cost Norms Pattern of Assistance
No. Component
1 Medicinal Plants Rs. Assistance @ 40% in general areas for an
(Mulethi, Shatavari, 1,50,000/ha area upto 2 ha.on pro rata basis for meeting
Kalihari, Shwet the expenditure on planting material and cost
Musali, Guggle, of material for INM/IPM etc. in 2
Manjishtha, Kutki, instalments of 60:40
Atees, Jatamansi, In the case of NE & Himalayan States,
Ashwagandha, Scheduled areas including TSP (Tribal Sub
Brahmi, Tulsi, Plan) areas, vibrant villages, Andaman &
Vidarikand, Pippali, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands,
Chirata, Pushkarmool assistance will be @ 50% for an area upto2
etc.) ha. on pro rata basis.
(d) Yes, the Government of India has conducted extensive surveys and studies to identify
rare, endangered, and threatened species of medicinal plants and herbs across the country.
These activities are primarily carried out by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) under the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
It is reported that: -
An estimated more than 8,000 species of medicinal plants are found in India.
Surveys by different government agencies have identified over 5,250 plant species
and documented over 9,567 folk claims for various ailments.Through survey and exploration of the wild plant resources to different phytogeographical
regions of the country, the scientists of BSI have also identified Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant species and documented about 2034 ethnobotanical information on
traditional/medicinal knowledge in the tribal regions of Odisha, Gujarat, Bihar, Tharu and
Bhoksa tribe of Uttarakhand, Lodh tribes of West Bengal.
(e) Yes, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, under its Central
Sector Scheme on ‘Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal
Plants’ provides project based financial support for research activities on various aspects of
medicinal plants to government as well as private universities/research
institutions/organizations across the country. The details of specific projects supported by
NMPB on properties and effects of medicinal plants during the last five years are as per details
given in Annexure- I.
Additionally, Indian Council for Agriculture Research- Directorate of Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants Research (ICAR-DMAPR), Anand, Gujarat along with All India
Coordinated Research Project on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants & Betelvine (AICRP-
MAPB) headquartered at IACR-DMAPR, Anand are actively engaged in research and
development in all aspects of medicinal plants, development of agro-techniques, post-harvest
management and storage & processing. AICRP-MAPB has 28 centres (including 6 voluntary
centres) situated across the country.Annexure-I
Details of projects supported under Central Sector Scheme for conservation,
development and sustainable management of medicinal plants to different organizations
throughout country for R&D activities during the last five years.
Sr. Year Project Tile &Organization Details Sanctioned
No amount
(in lakhs)
1 2020- Project Tile - Bioactivity guided fractional and isolation of 21.382
21 bioactive compounds from selected medicinal plants with
anticancer potential against triple negative breast cancer.
Organization - Collage of Veterinary and Animal Science,
Mannuthy Pin 680651.
2 2021- Project Tile - In vivo and In vitro study on synergistic effect of 40.10229
22 medicinal plants in breast cancer of mice.
Organization - Central University of Himachal Pradesh Shahpur
Campus, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh PIN: 176206
3 2021- Project Tile - Isolation and evaluation of Bioactive Components 38.277419
22 of Young Roots and Leaf Extracts of Bilva for IL-2
Immunotherapy: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.
Organization - School of Life Sciences, Gachibowli, Hyderabad,
Telangana-500046
4 2022- Project Tile - Isolation, characterization of herbal plant
23 constituents and their effect on curing Osteoporosis using
osteoblastic cell lines 20.0133
Organization1 - Sharda University Address: Plot No. 32, 34,
Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh PIN: 201310
Organization2 - NICPR ICMR Department of Health Research,
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, I-7, Sector-
39,
Noida, UP PIN: 2013015 2022- Project Tile - Deciphering the response of Ficus fruit 38.05252
23 polysaccharides on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)
in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Organization - Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
6 2022- Project Tile - Bioassay guided fractionation of Acacia catechu 22.2
23 and Rhodiola imbricata for the inhibition of PEPCK gene
expression and gluconeogenesis in H4IIE hepatoma cell line.
Organization - National Forensic Sciences University (An
Institute of National Importance under Ministry of Home
Affairs) Sector 3, Rohini New Delhi-110085
7 2023- Project Tile - Cytotoxic evaluation of the non-polar compound
24 of Valeriana wallichii against MDR Aacinetobacter baumannii. 18.338
Organization - Amity University, Sector – 125, Noida, Gautam
Buddha Nagar, UP – 201301.