Question : Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

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

(a) the details and outcome of the action taken by the Government to promote the cultivation/farming of medicinal plants by coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the State Governments;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the demand of medicinal plants is increasing rapidly in the international market but adulteration is being done in medicinal plants in the country quite often bringing disrepute to the country’s name in the international market, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has taken concrete action to check adulteration in medicinal plants; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India under its Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) provides financial assistance to the farmers to encourage farming/cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants throughout the country. Under NAM scheme, there is a component on ‘Medicinal Plants’ 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.

The scheme is implemented through Mission Directors identified in States / UTs located in State Horticulture / Agriculture departments/ Forest departments/ AYUSH departments and State Medicinal Plants Boards.
Under NAM scheme, Ministry of AYUSH has approved an amount of Rs. 18944.36 lakhs for implementation of medicinal plants component activities throughout the country and has supported 48,379 hectare area under cultivation, 56,711 farmers and 81 species of medicinal plants across the country from 2015-16 to 2019-20. The detail is given at Annexure.
(b) to (d): Standards of identity, purity and strength of medicinal plant parts used in the manufacturing of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs are prescribed in the respective pharmacopoeias which are mandatory for the drug manufacturers to comply in accordance with the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Adulterated Ayurveda, Siddha & Unani drugs are defined under Section 33EE of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 along with penalty provisions. Good Manufacturing Practices prescribed under Drugs & Cosmetics Rules for Ayurveda, Siddha & Unani drugs also seek use of authentic raw materials of prescribed quality and free from contamination.
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India has launched a “Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plants Produce (VCSMPP)” on 22nd November, 2017 in order to encourage the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs) of medicinal plants and enhance the availability of the certified quality medicinal plants raw material in the country and create export avenues for the farmers opting for the cultivation of herbs and medicinal plants across the country.