Parliament Question: Promotion of Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED ADMITTED QUESTION NO. 3494 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/03/2026 Promoting cultivation of medicinal plants 3494 Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan: Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state: (a) whether any special scheme/programme is being implemented by the Government to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants used in the Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy systems in the country and if so, the details thereof, stream-wise; (b) whether the farmers have been provided with subsidies, training, seed/planting material support, minimum support price or cluster development facilities for cultivation of medicinal plants in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in Parliamentary constituency 24 Ratlam-Jhabua-Alirajpur and if so, the details thereof, district-wise; (c) whether any special action plan has been proposed to promote cultivation of AYUSH medicinal plants as an alternative source of income for farmers in tribal and rain-fed areas; and (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) Yes, 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). (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. (b) No. Currently, there is no such scheme to provide the subsidy to the farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants in NMPB, Ministry of Ayush. However, in the past Ministry of Ayush, had implemented Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants since 2015-16 to 2020-21 throughout the country including Madhya Pradesh. The detail is given at Annexure-I. NMPB, Ministry of Ayush is implementing a component namely “Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants (Integrated Component)” under Central Sector Scheme (CSS) on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” throughout the country including Madhya Pradesh wherein the following activities are supported: • Infrastructure for Quality Planting Material to raise the planting material for distribution to the farmers for medicinal plants 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. Till date, NMPB, Ministry of Ayush has approved an amount of Rs. 119.95 lakh to the State Medicinal Plants Board, Madhya Pradesh during the F.Y. 2024-25 under Integrated Component. The detail is given at Annexure-II.Further, NMPB, Ministry of Ayush, has approved 157 projects for organizing training program/seminars/workshops for promotion of cultivation of medicinal plants throughout the country including Madhya Pradesh from financial year 2020-21 to till date, for an amount of Rs.1255.96 Lakh. Apart from it, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush 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. (c) & (d) There is no such special action plan proposed to promote cultivation of Ayush medicinal plants as an alternative source of income for farmers in tribal and rain-fed areas However, 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 area (Mulethi, Shatavari, 1,50,000/ha upto 2 ha. on pro rata basis for meeting the Kalihari, Shwet expenditure on planting material and cost of Musali, Guggle, material for INM/IPM etc. in 2 instalments of Manjishtha, Kutki, 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, assistance Chirata, Pushkarmool will be @ 50% for an area upto 2 ha. on pro etc.) rata basis.Annexure-I The activates supported under Medicinal Plants Component of National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme from the Financial Year 2015-16 to 2020-21 to the Madhya Pradesh (Rs. In lakh) S.No Component 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 Total 1 Fund approved 306.905 496.382 450.275 334.459 516.873 967.236 3072.13 2 Fund released 276.215 297.829 270.165 200.675 310.12 230.170 1585.17 (Central share) 3 No. of farmers 0 0 400 440 500 250 1590 supported for trainingAnnexure –II NMPB has approved a project entitled “Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants at Khandwa district in MP” to SMPB Madhya Pradesh under the Integrated Component (IC) of Central Sector Scheme during the F.Y. 2024-25. S.No. Madhya Pradesh 1. Fund released (Rs. In lakh) 119.95 2. No. of farmers 500 3. No.of species 4 (Ashwagandha, Shatawar, Moringa, Stevia) 4 District covered Khandwa