Parliament Question: Management of Medicinal Plants

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED ADMITTED QUESTION NO. 5745 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27th MARCH, 2026 “Management of Medicinal Plants” 5745. Shri C N Annadurai: Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is implementing schemes for the conservation, cultivation and sustainable management of medicinal plants in the country through the National Medicinal Plants Board under his Ministry and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of assistance provided under the Central Sector Scheme on "Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants" including support for the establishment of Home Herbal Gardens, School Herbal Gardens, Institutional/Public Herbal Gardens and Herbal Gardens of State and National Importance; (c) the details of financial assistance and subsidy provided to farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants under the National AYUSH Mission during the last five years; (d) the number of herbal gardens, nurseries and medicinal plant cultivation projects sanctioned in Tamil Nadu along with the funds allocated and utilised, year-wise; and (e) the steps taken by the Government to further promote medicinal plant cultivation, herbal gardens and farmer participation in Tamil Nadu? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a): Yes, 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. Under this 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. Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc. iv. Research & Development. v. IEC activities like Training / Workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc. vi. Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gardens. vii. Promotion of marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce. viii. Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants. (b): The details of assistance provided under the "Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants" for various activities including School Herbal Gardens, Institutional/Public Herbal Gardens and Herbal Gardens of State and National Importance is given at Annexure-I. (c): Ministry of Ayush, Government of India had implemented “Medicinal Plants” component under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) during 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 financial assistance provided to different States for cultivation of medicinal plants under NAM Scheme during financial year 2020-21 is given at Annexure-II. (d): The number of Herbal Gardens, Nursery projects sanctioned in state of Tamil Nadu, funds allocated and utilized from year 2004-05 to 2024-25 are at Annexure-III. To support cultivation of medicinal plants in state of Tamil Nadu, the NMPB, Ministry of Ayush under its “Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” has approved a project entitled "Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants (Integrated component) - TNAU” to Tamil NaduAgricultural University (TNAU), Tamil Nadu for an amount of Rs. 95.00 lakh during the F.Y. 2024-25 with the objectives to raise Quality Planting Material (1 Nursery) for distribution to farmers for medicinal plants cultivation and establishment of infrastructure for Post-Harvest Management and Marketing. (e): The NMPB, Ministry of Ayush through its Regional Cum Facilitation Centre (Southern Region), Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala facilitates Quality Planting Material (QPM) to the farmers / growers and involve their participation for promotion of medicinal plants cultivation in state of Tamil Nadu. For establishment of different types of Herbal Gardens viz. School Herbal Gardens, Institutional / Public Herbal Gardens /Ayush van, Herbal Gardens of State and National Importance, the NMPB, Ministry of Ayush as per provision of its “Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants”, is providing project based support throughout the country including state of Tamil Nadu.Annexure-I The details of assistance provided under “Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” for various activities on medicinal plants S. No. Component/ Activity Cost Norm Remarks i In-situ conservation a) Establishment of Rs. 20,000 per hectare 100% Central Assistance Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) b) Revisit and Rs. 5000/- per hectare 100% Assistance upgradation of MPCA c) Assistance for Rs. 1.50 lakh per forest 100% Assistance mainstreaming Medicinal Division Plants in Management / / Wildlife Division Working Plans d) in-situ resource Cost norms of 100% Assistance augmentation MoEF&CC under National Afforestation Programme ii Ex-situ conservation Ex-situ conservation Cost norms of 100% Assistance MoEF&CC under CSS National Afforestation Programme Eco Task Force for rehabilitation of critical medicinal plant habitats Eco Task Force Project based 100% assistance to the eligible organization iii Support to JFMCs/ Panchayats/Van Panchayats/ SHGs Value addition, drying, Rs.15.00 lakhs per 100% assistance per JFMC warehousing and JFMC / Panchayats / / Panchayats / Van augmenting marketing Van Panchayats /SHGs / Panchayats / SHGs / infrastructure etc. BMCs BMCsiv Research, Technology Development and Quality Assurance a) R&D Projects on Project based 100% assistance for Govt. theme areas Institutions / PSUs, Govt. Aided Institutions etc. and Non-profit making Philanthropic Organizations with requisite expertise. 50% assistance for projects received from private sector organizations b) Network research Project based 100% assistance for Govt. projects involving two or Institutions/PSUs, Govt. more institutions Aided Institutions etc. and Non-profit making Philanthropic Organizations with requisite expertise. 50% assistance for projects received from private sector organizations c) Raw drug repository of Rs.10.00 crores for 100% assistance to Govt. medicinal plants national raw drugs Institutions/PSUs. For repository and Rs. 5.00 private organizations crores each for regional assistance would be raw drug repositories decided by PAC in project mode Establishing Quality Project based 100% assistance. Standards and certification and other interventions not specifically mentioned elsewhere. v Awareness Building, Exposure Visits, Education and Capacity Building of Stakeholders through IEC a) Training and Capacity a) Rs. 2,000 per trainee 100% Assistance Building Programmes for (farmer) for a minimum Travel cost will be limited field staff of Forest Dept., of 2 days within the to 3rd AC train fares per Institutions, Universities, state. participants. However, forHorticulture Dept., b) Rs. 5,000 per head for Govt. Servants it will be as Agriculture Dept., exposure visits to other per entitlement. Growers and Collectors states. For places not connected c) The expenditure on by Rail, travel by available officers training within modes will be permitted as the State will be Rs. approved by the PSC/ 5,000/- per officer and PAC. outside the State the cost would be restricted to Rs. 10,000 per officer (Travel cost will be additional) b) Workshops/ Seminar/ Rs. 1.00 lakhs for 100% assistance Arogya District level, Rs. 2.00 lakhs for State level, Rs. 3.00 lakhs for regional level, Rs. 5.00 lakhs for National level Rs. 10.00 lakhs for international level. c) Participation in For participation by 100% assistance for Govt. exhibition/ fair other Agencies Rs. 1.00 Organizations lakh for State level, Rs. For Private organizations 2.00 lakhs for National including industries 50% level Rs. 3.00 lakhs for of the prescribed cost or international level actual expenditure whichever is less (which includes expenditure on Travel, accommodation, Hire charges, stall fabrication, etc.) will be reimbursed. Participation by NMPB will be as per the actuals. vi Promotion of Herbal Gardens a) Herbal Gardens of As per the project 100% assistance State and National proposal Importanceb) Institutional/ Public Rs. 3.00 lakhs per 100% assistance Herbal Garden/ Ayush hectare for establishment Van Annual maintenance of the Herbal Garden @ up to Rs.60,000/- per year per ha. for next four years. c) School Herbal Gardens Rs. 25,000/- per school 100% assistance for an area of 500 sqm. Up to Rs. 7,000/- per annum/ per school for aintenance for next 4 years vii Forward and Backward Infrastructure for 100% assistance Quality Planting Linkage in Supply Material for Medicinal Chain of Medicinal Plants Rs. 50.00 lakh Plants (Integrated Information Education Communication (IEC) Component) activities- Rs. 7.50 lakh Infrastructure for Post - Harvest Management and Marketing- Rs. 55.00 lakh Quality Testing and Certification - Rs. 7.50 lakh Total Project Cost Rs. 120.00 LakhAnnexure-II The State-wise detail of funds released under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) scheme for cultivation of medicinal plants and related activities during the F.Y. 2020-21 S. Name of State Funds Released No. In F.Y. 2020-21 (Rs. in Lakhs) 1. Arunachal Pradesh 26.7750 2. Jammu & Kashmir 22.5200 3. Karnataka 220.9650 4. Kerala 221.7672 5. Madhya Pradesh 230.1708 6. Mizoram 14.6450 7. Nagaland 33.9650 8. Sikkim 18.9850 9. Uttar Pradesh 209.8161 Total 999.6091Annexure-III The number of Herbal Gardens, Nursery projects sanctioned under “Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” in state of Tamil Nadu, funds allocated and utilized from year 2004-05 to 2024-25 Years Numbe Sanction Released Utilize Number Sancti Releas Utilize r of ed Amount d of oned ed d project Amount (Rs. in Amou projects Amou Amou Amou s (Rs. in lakhs) nt (Rs. nt (Rs. nt (Rs. nt lakhs) in in in (Rs. lakhs) lakhs) lakhs) in lakhs) Herbal Herbal Herbal Herbal Nursery Nurser Nurser Nurse Garden Garden Garden Garde y y ry n 2004-05 2 16.00 16.00 16.00 0 0 0 0 2005-06 3 27.75 27.75 27.75 0 0 0 0 2006-07 2 12.60 12.60 12.60 0 0 0 0 2007-08 1 7.00 7.00 7.00 0 0 0 0 2008-09 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2010-11 1 22.00 18.00 18.00 0 0 0 0 2011-12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2012-13 1 16.06 11.21 11.21 0 0 0 0 2013-14 2 12.60 4.20 4.00 0 0 0 0 2014-15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2015-16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2016-17 1 26.50 12.50 0 1 56.94 42.63 42.63 2017-18 4 191.55 108.75 0 0 0 0 0 2018-19 0 0 0 0 2 0.5625 0 0 2019-20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2020-21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2021-22 5 18.80 10.03 10.03 0 0 0 0 2022-23 9 140.44 51.50 7.50 1 1.25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2023-24 10.80 6.00 1 2024-25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58.752 Total 32 502.10 285.54 114.09 4 42.63 42.63 5