(a) whether the Government has conducted any study in regard to use of Stevia as an alternative to sugar;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is formulating any scheme to promote cultivation of Stevia; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI S. GANDHISELVAN)
(a) & (b): The constituent laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) namely,
Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow and Institute of Himalayan Bioresource
Technology (IHBT), Palampur are working on Stevia. CIMAP is working on development of a variety having
high steveoside, rebaudioside with low dulcoside–A content, while IHBT is involved in developing cultivation
practices and improvement of Stevia to increase glycoside.
(c) & (d): The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) is implementing a “Centrally Sponsored Scheme
of National Mission on Medicinal Plants†from the year 2008-09. Under the scheme, cultivation of
commercially important species of medicinal plants is being encouraged by providing subsidy. Besides,
financial assistance is provided for nurseries, post-harvest management, processing etc. Stevia is
included in the list of 93 plants species prioritized for cultivation and 20% of the cultivation
cost is given as subsidy to the farmers under this scheme.