Question : Promotion of Medicinal Farming

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any new measures/schemes for promotion and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of action taken to protect rare, endangered and threatened species with the backward linkage with established nurseries/seed blocks in various States including Kerala;

(c) whether the Government has any plan to promote medicinal farming in the country and if so, the details thereof along with subsidy/incentive provided to the farmers for the purpose, scheme and project-wise;

(d) the details of funds provided by the Government under various schemes, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the details of action taken to ensure uniform distribution of produce with optimum price fixation to enable good remuneration for farmer/cultivators/ collectors?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a): The NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH at present has no such proposal to formulate any new measures/schemes for promotion and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants in the country, however, presently the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH is implementing a “Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” under which as per the scheme guidelines project based support is provided for activities like survey-inventorisation, documentation, resource augmentation, in-situ/ex-situ conservation, establishment of Herbal Gardens, conducting of Seminar/ Conference/ Training/ Workshops/ Buyer-seller meets etc. and Research & Development on various aspects of Medicinal Plants.

(b): The NMPB under its Central Sector Scheme is supporting development of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) to protect/conserve the medicinal plants in wild, along with augmentation in forest areas and the special attention is given to protect rare, endangered and threatened species with backward linkage through establishing of nurseries in different parts of the country including state of Kerala.
(c): To promote the medicinal farming in the country, the Ministry of AYUSH is presently implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) under which there is a component on “Medicinal Plants” which primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of 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. The cultivation of medicinal plants is supported by providing financial assistance as subsidy to farmers through the identified implementing agency of concerned state (generally State Horticulture and State Agriculture Departments). Under the scheme presently, Ministry of AYUSH has prioritized 140 species of medicinal plants for cultivation and in this regard financial assistance as subsidy is provided @ 30%, 50% and 75% of the cost of cultivation (List of the prioritized species is at Annexure-I). As per the scheme guidelines, the financial assistance for cultivation of medicinal plants is provided based on the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State.
(d): The State/UT-wise details of funds provided/released under Ministry of AYUSH’s above Schemes during last three years and current financial year is at Annexure-II & III.
(e): NMPB conducts demand and supply study time to time to know the market demand and accordingly promotes its cultivation throughout the country. To facilitate farmers and collectors to get optimum price for their produce, NMPB conducts Buyers Sellers meets throughout the country by itself or through SMPBs and other state agencies. NMPB has also launched an online platform for buyers and sellers which is also supported with mobile based application called ‘e-Charak’ wherein buyers and sellers can interact and sell their produce. There is also monthly mandi price update on major medicinal plants provided to enable farmers get good remuneration for their produce.