Question : MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

(a) the list of the endangered species of the medicinal and aromatic plants in the country and the reasons for these plants falling in the endangered category;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to extend credit and subsidy facilities to individuals for taking up cultivation of these medicinal plants in the country along with the proposals received from the State Governments in this regard;

(c) whether the Government proposes to establish Central Herbal Garden in every State and also constituted a committee for cultivation of these plants along the sides of National Highways in the hilly areas;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any proposal is also under consideration of the Government to procure medicinal plants through Medicinal Plant Farms and Herbal Medicine Corporation Ltd. and to fix Minimum Support Price (MSP) for it;and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the guidelines issued to the State Governments in this regard?

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

(a) The list of the threatened species of the medicinal and aromatic plants in the country is given at Annexure . The reasons of these plants falling in the endangered category are (i) anthropogenic i.e. over – exploitation including open source collection of these plants to meet the demand of industries; and (ii) habitat degradation due to change in land-use pattern.

(b) National Medicinal Plants Board had implemented Contractual Farming scheme since the year 2002-03 under which financial assistance was provided to farmers / growers for cultivation of identified medicinal plants in the form of subsidy @ 30% of the project cost to a maximum of Rs. 9.00 lakhs. This scheme continued till the year 2007-08. A new “Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants” is being implemented w.e.f. 2008-09 with a total outlay of Rs. 630.00 crores during the 11th plan. Its implementation is being done in a mission mode in selected clusters through growers’ cooperatives, self help groups, producer companies, etc. with backward and forward linkages for nurseries, post-harvest management, marketing and quality certification. (c) & (d) No. However, a Core Group was constituted by the National Medicinal Plants Board for finalization of an Action Plan for plantation of medicinal plants along the National Highways. The Core Group suggested that plantation and commercial exploitation of medicinal plants is not advisable along the Highways.

(e) No.

(f) Does not arise.