The Ministry of Ayush, through the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), is implementing a Central Sector Scheme to support the conservation, development, and sustainable management of medicinal plants across India, including tribal districts. The scheme provides project-based support, focusing on the forward and backward linkages in the medicinal plant supply chain.
Key activities supported include:
* Infrastructure development for quality planting material production.
* Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to raise farmer awareness.
* Infrastructure for post-harvest management and marketing to enhance marketability, value addition, profitability, and reduce losses.
* Quality testing and certification of raw materials.
As of August 5, 2025, the NMPB has approved nine projects under this scheme. In Financial Year 2023-24, support was provided to Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram, and Uttarakhand, benefiting 371 farmers (including tribal farmers). In Financial Year 2024-25, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu received support, reaching 1635 farmers (including tribal farmers).
Additionally, the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provides financial assistance for area expansion of short duration medicinal plants. Assistance is capped at Rs. 1,50,000 per hectare, up to 2 hectares on pro rata basis, split into two installments (60:40), to cover planting material and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)/Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Assistance is 50 for an area upto 2 hectare on pro rata basis for North Eastern Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, supports value addition, processing, and marketing of forest and agricultural produce gathered by tribal communities through the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme. The projects also create local employment through activities like nursery development and the construction of rural collection centers, promoting income generation and inclusive economic growth.
This information was provided by Union Minister of State IC of the Ministry of Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on August 5, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
National Medicinal Plants Board: NMPB, an organization under the Ministry of Ayush, implementing a Central Sector Scheme for medicinal plants.
Ministry of Ayush: The ministry overseeing the National Medicinal Plants Board and related schemes.
Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants: A scheme implemented by the NMPB for supporting medicinal plant activities.
Andhra Pradesh: A state that received project-based support during the Financial Year 2023-24.
Jammu and Kashmir: A state/union territory that received project-based support during the Financial Year 2023-24.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture: MIDH, a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare providing financial assistance for medicinal plants.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India: TRIFED, an organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, supporting value addition and marketing of tribal produce.
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan: PM JANMAN scheme. Scheme by Ministry of Tribal Affairs that supports value addition, processing and marketing of forest and agricultural produce gathered by tribal communities
AYUSH
Support by NMPB for cultivation and processing of
medicinal plants in tribal districts
Posted On: 05 AUG 2025 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush is implementing a Central Sector Scheme for
Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants throughout the country. The
scheme is aimed at providing project-based support throughout the country for different activities. The
“Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants” is one of the component of Central
Sector Scheme under which the following activities are supported:
Infrastructure for Quality Planting Material to raise the planting material of medicinal plants for
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cultivation.
Information Education Communication (IEC) activities to aware the farmers.
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Infrastructure for Post-Harvest Management and Marketing to increase the marketability of the
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medicinal plants, adding value to the produce, increasing profitability and reducing losses.
Quality Testing and Certification of raw material.
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Till date, NMPB, Ministry of Ayush has approved 09 projects under “Forward and Backward Linkage in
Supply Chain of Medicinal Plants (Integrated Component)” throughout the country including tribal districts.
The project based support was provided to the states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Mizoram and
Uttarakhand during the Financial Year 2023- 24 and for the states viz Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu during the Financial Year 2024-25.
The technical assistance was provided for 371 farmers (including tribal farmers) during the Financial Year
2023-24 and for 1635 farmers (including tribal farmers) during the Financial Year 2024-25 throughout the
country under the projects supported for “Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants
(Integrated Component)”. The detail is given at Annexure-I.
As per information received from Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, under Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH)–Centrally Sponsored Scheme, a provision has been made for
providing financial assistance for area expansion of short duration medicinal plants. Details of cost norms
alongwith the pattern of assistance is given at Annexure – II.
As per the inforamtion received from Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India
(TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs supports value addition, processing and marketing of forest and
agricultural produce gathered by tribal communities under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
(PMJVM)” and Pradhan Mantri - Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme.
Local employment was created through project activities approved under integrated component where
community members were engaged in filling of polypots for nursery development, providing short-term
income especially to women. Local skilled workers and unskilled helpers were hired for the construction of
Rural collection Centre. These efforts led to direct income generation and promoted inclusive economic
growth at the grassroots level.
Annexure-I
Name of the Districts and no. of farmers covered for cultivation of medicinal plants under Forward and
backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants (Integrated Component) of Central Sector Scheme
“Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” during the financial year
2023-24 and 2024-25:No. of Farmers (including tribal
S. No. State District
farmers)
Financial year 2023-24
Alluri Sitha Rama
65
Raju (ASR)
1 Andhra Pradesh
Parvathipuram
38
Manyam
Kupwara 20
2 Jammu & Kashmir
Rajouri 4
3 Mizoram Serchhips 145
Chamoli 50
Bageshwar 21
4 Uttarakhand Pithoragarh 24
Uttarkashi 2
Rudraprayag 2
Total 371
Financial year 2024-25
1 Gujarat Ambreli 900
Udupi 39
2 Karnataka
Dakshin Kannada 2
3 Kerala Thrissur 144
4 Madhya Pradesh Khandwa 500
5 Tamil Nadu Coimbatore 50
Total 1635
Annexure – II
Details of cost norms alongwith the pattern of assistance under Mission for Integrated Development of
Horticulture (MIDH) scheme is given below:
S
.
C o s t
N Name of the Component Pattern of Assistance
Norms
o
.
Assistance @ 40% in general areas for an area
Medicinal Plants (Mulethi, Shatavari,
upto 2 hectare on pro rata basis for meeting the
Kalihari, Shwet Musali, Guggle, Manjishtha, R s .
1 expenditure on planting material and cost of
Kutki, Atees, Jatamansi, Ashwagandha, 1,50,000/
. material for Integrated Nutrient Management
Brahmi, Tulsi, Vidarikand, Pippali, Chirata, ha
(INM) / Integrated Pest Management (IPM) etc.
Pushkarmool etc.)
in 2 instalments of 60:40.In the case of North Eastern & Himalayan
States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages,
Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands,
assistance will be @ 50% for an area
upto 2 hectare on pro rata basis.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) of the Ministry of Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav
in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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MV/GS/SG
(Release ID: 2152588)