Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the National Medicinal Plant Board has started help groups for medicinal plants;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the aim and objectives of the groups; and
(c) the measures being taken by the Government to increase the yield of medicinal plants in Gujarat?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) & (b): The NMPB is presently implementing “Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” throughout the country. Under this scheme project based assistance is provided for support to Joint Forest Management Committees(JFMCs)/Panchayats/Van Panchayats/Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) for setting of local cluster for value addition, drying, warehousing and augmenting marketing infrastructure, etc. with the objective to channelize production and promote sustainable harvesting and supply of Medicinal plants through capacity building of JFMCs/Van Panchayats /local SHGs/BMCs etc. 57 no’s of Self Help groups have been supported through State Forest Department, details as given below:
S. No Name of State No. of Self Help Group
1 Maharashtra 10
2 Punjab 36
3 Uttarakhand 11
(c) Ministry of AYUSH is presently implementing following schemes:
1. “Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM)”
Under ‘Medicinal Plants’ component of the NAM scheme supporting market driven cultivation of 140 prioritized medicinal lants in identified cluster/ zones with in the selected districts of States and implemented in a mission mode. As per the scheme guideline, the support is provided for:
i). Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land.
ii). Establishment of nurseries with backward linkage for raising and supply of quality planting material.
iii). Establishment of post-harvest management units with forward linkages.
iv). Establishment of primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.
Subsidy is provided for cultivation of medicinal plants out of prioritized list of 140 species @ 30%, 50% and 75% of cost of its cultivation. Under this scheme a total amount of Rs. 467.41 lakh has been approved/ released (including state share) for the cultivation activities of medicinal plants during the last three years in Gujarat State
2. Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” wherein following activities are supported:
i). In-situ conservation/ Ex-situ conservation
ii). Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)/Panchayats/ Van Panchayats/ Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)/ Self Help Groups (SHGs).
iii). IEC activities like Training/ Workshops/ Seminars/ Conference etc.
iv). Research & Development.
v). Promotion, marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
Under this scheme a total amount of Rs. 277.311 lakh has been sanctioned for project based support w.r.t. Research & Development (R&D) activities.