Question : Multi-National Companies (MNCs)

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has planned to develop herbal gardens with prominent medicinal plants in the country including Maharashtra in collaboration with various Multi-National Companies (MNCs);

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the details about the current herbal gardens in the country;

(d) whether Government is providing incentives to the farmers to promote herbal farming, if so, the details thereof;

(e) the type of assistance being provided by Government for the same and the details thereof, State/ UT-wise; and

(f) the further initiatives taken by Government during the last three years in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a): The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH has no proposal to develop herbal garden in collaboration with any MNCs.


(b): Bringing in MNCs would require to obtain permission from National Biodiversity Authority to ensure that the genetic material and traditional knowledge are protected. Moreover, no MNC has so far applied for any such gardens. However, as per the operational guideline of NMPB,s above said Central Sector Scheme there is no provision to develop herbal garden in collaboration with MNCs.




(c): Presently, the NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH is implementing a “Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” throughout the country under which there is a provision to provide project based support to various Government and Non-Government organisations to develop different types of Herbal Gardens (viz. Home Herbal Gardens, School Herbal Gardens, Institutional/Public Herbal Gardens and Herbal Gardens of State and National importance). Details of Herbal Garden are placed at Annexure-I

(d) & (e): Yes, the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India under its Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) is providing financial assistance as subsidy to farmers to promote farming of herbs/medicinal plants throughout the country.

Under NAM scheme, there is a component on ‘Medicinal Plants’ which is primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants on farmer’s land with backward linkages through establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material, and forward linkages for post-harvest management. Presently, 140 medicinal plants species have been prioritized for supporting cultivation throughout the country for which the subsidy is provided to farmers @ 30%, 50% and 75% of cost of cultivation.As per NAM scheme guidelines, the fund under this component is shared in the ratio of 60:40 between Central and State Government whereas it is in the ratio of 90:10 in North East & Hilly Regions states and financed 100% by Central Government in Union Territories (UTs).The cultivation programme is implemented through the identified implementing agency of concerned state and the financial assistance is provided as per the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State. Details of last three years are placed at Annexure-II.

(f): Increased 10% cost of cultivation as per the guideline. A Gazette notification has been published for medicinal plants component to release the fund in DBT mode.

National Medicinal Plants Boards (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH having Voluntary Certification Scheme for medicinal Plants produce (VCSMPP) for strengthening the certification process of Medicinal Plants Produce based on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)/ Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP). The scheme implemented throughout country by Quality Council of India, New Delhi.