Question : MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

(a) the estimated number of medicinal and aromatic plants cultivators alongwith the programme being implemented by the Government to assist them for cultivation of such plants, State/UT-wise;

(b) the funds allocated, activities undertaken and the achievements made as a result thereof under the said programme during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(c) the number of States where Medicinal Plant Boards are functional in the country, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Governmnt has reviewed the functioning of these boards in every State; and

(e) if so, the outcome thereof alongwith the steps taken/proposed to open centres of research for medicinal plants in the country?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)to(e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 144 FOR 23RD MARCH, 2012

(a)&(b): The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has approved annual action plans of 25 States for supporting inter-alia cultivation of medicinal plants by about 56,339 farmers in 2011-12 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants”. Further, the Ministry of Agriculture has informed that about 4,225 cultivators of medicinal and aromatic plants were covered during 2005-12 under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM). State wise number of cultivators approved for the support under both the schemes is available at Annexure-I.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants” being implemented by NMPB aims at supporting market driven cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants and is being implemented in a mission mode for cultivation of identified medicinal plants in cluster mode, through Growers, Farmers, Cultivators, Growers Associations, Federations, Self Help Groups, Corporates and Growers Co-operatives with backward and forward linkages. The subsidy is provided to the cultivators through State Mission Directors. The rates of subsidy are 75%, 50% and 20% of the cost of cultivation of medicinal plants, depending upon their threat status, gestation period and need for support etc. Financial assistance amounting to Rs. 146.3679 crores was released during the last three years to State Mission Directors for implementing the Scheme. State wise details of funds released and achievements made regarding nurseries and cultivation under the scheme in the last three year are available in Annexure-II.

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on “National Horticulture Mission” (NHM) in all States of India except the North Eastern and Himalayan States. The scheme provides for holistic development of horticulture sector duly ensuring forward and backward linkages with the active participation of all the stake-holders. Earlier the Promotion of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants was included as one of the components under NHM, during 2007-08, with the provision of assistance @75% of the total cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 11,250/- per ha. limited to 4 ha per beneficiary. Since 2009-10, medicinal plants have been excluded from the scheme due to separate Mission on Medicinal Plants, launched by Department of AYUSH. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is also implementing another scheme i.e. Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) for promotion of Horticulture including Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in these States. A statement showing State-wise physical and financial achievements under these schemes during the last three year is available in Annexure-III.

(c)to(e) State Medicinal Plants Boards (SMPBs) have been set up in 35 States/ UTs by the respective State Governments on the request of NMPB as detailed in Annexure – IV.

The functioning of these Boards has been reviewed from time to time by the NMPB at various forums. As an outcome thereof, State/ UT Governments have been requested to provide adequate man power and budgetary support to improve their functioning and they have been requested to expedite submission of pending utilization certificates.

As far as steps taken / proposed to open centres of research for medicinal plants in the country are concerned, the Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow; under the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are exclusively dedicated for undertaking research in medicinal and aromatic plants. In addition, different organizations e.g. National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow; North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat; Institute of Himalayan Bio Resource Technology (IHBT), Palampur; Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu; Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore etc. under CSIR and ICAR are also engaged in Research in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Further, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicines (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), State Agricultural Universities etc. also undertake research on medicinal plants. ICAR, CSIR, Institutions, Agriculture Universities etc. cooperate with the NMPB in activities related to research on medicinal plants.