Question : Funds for Herbal Cultivation by Farmers

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

(a) whether the Government has earmarked any funds for herbal cultivation by local farmers in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the National Medicinal Plant Board has undertaken any exercise for allotment of land for the purpose of herbal cultivation in various States, across the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Andhra Pradesh etc.;

(d) the amount utilized so far in the current financial year; and

(e) the time by which the yield would benefit the farmers and the income that would be generated therefrom?

(a): Yes, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM). Under ‘Medicinal Plants’ component of the NAM scheme supporting market driven cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants in identified cluster/zones with in selected districts of States and implemented in a mission mode. As per the scheme guidelines, the support is 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 forward linkages.
(iv) Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.



Ministry of AYUSH has approved / supported an amount of Rs. 11597.7 lakh (Including state share) for cultivation of medicinal plants under National AYUSH Mission Scheme from the F.Y. 2015-16 to 2019-20 on farmer’s land throughout the country by providing subsidy for 140 medicinal plants @30%, 50% and 75% of cost of its cultivation. The fund detail is given at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): Yes, Ministry of AYUSH has supported 48040 hectare area under cultivation of Medicinal Plants component of National AYUSH Mission (NAM). The detail of area supported under cultivation of medicinal plant throughout the country including Andhra Pradesh from the F.Y 2015-16 to 2019-20 is given at Annexure-II.

(d): Ministry of AYUSH has utilized an amount of Rs. 691.137 lakh during the F.Y. 2019-20 including current financial year under medicinal plants component of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) scheme for the fund released during the F.Y. 2015-16 to 2018-19. Detail is given below:
Amount released for the following F.Y. and their Utilization Certificate issued during the F.Y. 2019-20 and current year
(Rs. in lakh)
S.No. State 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 TOTAL
1 Mizoram 14.384 44.317 97.51 40.63 196.841
2 Uttar Pradesh 52.6 300.00 141.696 0.00 494.296
Total 66.984 344.317 239.206 40.63 691.137


(e): As per the prioritized list of Ministry of AYUSH, the plants selected for cultivation on farmers’ land are annual, biennial and perennial which may be benefitted to the farmers after 03 months, 06 months, yearly. The produce of tree species / perennial would come after the 6-12 years of plantation. Accordingly farmers are benefitted.