Question : Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plant

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

(a) whether any training programme is being run by the Government for the small farmers, entrepreneurs for the production, processing and marketing of herbs during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the expenditure incurred thereon;

(c) the amount of grant/fund allocated by the Government for production of herbs during the last three years;

(d) whether the Government proposes to educate domestic and international regulatory bodies about the Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plant Produce (VCSMPP) Scheme and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken to convince the farmers of medicinal plants and manufacturers of herbal products to effectively implement the scheme?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a) & (b): Yes, from time to time, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH under its Central Sector Scheme organize training programmes, workshops, seminars etc. for farmers, entrepreneurs for cultivation/production, processing and marketing of herbs/medicinal plants through its Facilitation Centers in different states of the country. During the last three years a total of 35 such training programmes/workshops/ Stakeholder meets were supported through these Facilitation Centers of NMPB. In addition, during the last three years, the NMPB under its Central Sector Scheme has also supported 74 projects in different states for conducting training programmes/ workshops / seminars etc. on various aspects of medicinal plants / herbs. During the last three years, to support above training programmes/ activities, the NMPB has released a total of ? 443.66 Lakh under its Central Sector Scheme.
Contd…….

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(c): During the last three years the amount of grant/fund allocated for production/ cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants under NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH’s Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants (NMMP)” and “National AYUSH Mission (NAM)” scheme is as below:

Name of the Scheme Financial Year Fund Allocated
(Rs. in Lakh)
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants (NMMP)” 2013-14
7381.95
2014-15 7313.88
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National AYUSH Mission (NAM)” 2015-16 2779.82

(d) & (e): The NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH through Quality Council of India (QCI) has designed a Scheme titled “Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plants Produce (VCSMPP)” based on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs) of medicinal plants.

To effectively implement the scheme and its better acceptability, understanding by farmers, collectors and traders of the medicinal plants, the NMPB is planning strategies along with QCI. In addition, the NMPB has also conducted a meeting with the Manufactures of herbal products/ASU&H Drug Manufacturing Associations in the country and explained them the scheme.
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