MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) and (b) Yes. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA),in consultation with the Department of AYUSH is addressing issues pertaining to conservation, protection and production of medicinal plants under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
As per Section 38 of the Act,about 150 plant species, which are threatened, have been notified for conservation.In order to promote medicinal plant cultivation, about 173 species have been declared as normally Traded Commodities as per the provisions of the Act.Under the Act, 17 Biodiversity Heritage Sites have been notified to conserve the medicinal plant species.
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH is presently implementing following schemes to ensure conservation, cultivation, and promotion of Medicinal Plants:
(i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Under the scheme, the large-scale farming / cultivation of medicinal plants is being supportfor following activities:
? Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land.
? Establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material.
? Post-harvest management.
? Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.
(ii) Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” -Under the scheme, the project-based support is provided for following activities:
? In-situ conservation through development of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs).
? In-situ/Ex-situ resource augmentation.
? Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gsardens.
? Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)/ Panchayats/ Van Panchayats/ Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc.
? Information Education Communication(IEC) activities like Training/ workshops/ Seminars/Conferences etc.
? Research & Development.
? Promotion of marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
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.
Besides it, NMPB also supports conservation/cultivation of fruit bearing trees viz., Emblicaofficinalis, Garcinia indica, Hippophaerhamnoides, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica etc.
(c) and (d) The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,Government of India implements Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, spices, etc. Activities such as production of planting material, seed production, protected cultivation, organic farming etc. are covered under the scheme.
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