(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage the
cultivation of medicinal plants in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the funds allocated to the State Governments for the purpose and
utilized by them during each of the last three years and the current
year, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether any irregularities have been reported in utilisation of the
allocated fund; and
(e) if so, the details thereof alongwith the action taken thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI S. GANDHISELVAN)
(a) & (b) The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Department of AYUSH has
been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal
Plants†with a total outlay of Rs. 630 crores during the 11th Plan. The scheme
aims at supporting market driven cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants and
is being implemented in a mission mode for cultivation through growers, farmers,
cultivators, Growers Associations, Federations, Self Help Groups, Corporates and
Growers Co-operatives with backward and forward linkages. The scheme is being
implemented since 2008-09. Under the scheme financial support is provided for
nursery, cultivation, post harvest management, processing and value addition
and management support.
The Board had also previously supported Contractual Farming under Central
Sector scheme since 2002-03 under which financial assistance was provided to farmers/
growers for cultivation of identified medicinal plants @ 30% of total expenditure to
a maximum of Rs. 9.00 lakhs for cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants.
The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation also launched a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme on National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in the country, during
the 10th Plan with effect from 2005-06 for holistic development of horticulture
sector duly ensuring forward and backward linkages with the active participation
of all the stake-holders. All the States and Union Territories were covered under
the Mission except the eight North Eastern States including Sikkim and the States
of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand which had been covered under
the Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEHS). The
promotion of Medicinal Plants was included as one of the component under NHM
since 2007-08. Funds were provided for cultivation of Medicinal Plants @ 75%
of the total cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 11,250/- per ha. limited to 4 ha.
per beneficiary. In view of implementation of National Mission on Medicinal
Plants by NMPB the development of medicinal plants has been excluded from National
Horticulture Mission Scheme since 2009-10.
(c) Information regarding the funds allocated to State Governments under
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants†since its
implementation and utilized by them has been provided in Annexure-I.
Statement showing state-wise funds released and utilized during the year
2007-08 & 2008-09 under the Scheme of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) has
been provided in Annexure-II.
(d) & (e) No irregularity was reported in utilization of funds allocated to the
State Governments.