Question : Herbal Garden

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the herbal gardens in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has formulated/implemented any scheme for developing herbal gardens in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has provided financial incentives to the farmer to promote herbal farming, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has received any proposal for developing herbal gardens from any institutions/State Government, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government on the said proposal;

(e) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of herbal gardens with participation from private sector if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to set up any herbal garden in Jharkhand and in the Districts of Rajasthan including Sikar, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a) to (d): Presently, The National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH is implementing a “Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” throughout the country under which there is a provision to provide project based support to various Government and Non-Government organizations to develop different types of Herbal Gardens viz. Home Herbal Gardens, School Herbal Gardens, Institutional/ Public Herbal Gardens and Herbal Gardens of State and National importance. Under the “Central Sector Scheme of Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” the project proposals from different Institutions/ State Government to develop herbal gardens are received and considered throughout the year. As per the operational guidelines of the above said scheme such project proposals are placed before Project Screening Committee (PSC) for their technical evaluation and thereafter based on recommendation of PSC, the proposal are placed for approval of Standing Finance Committee (SFC). The State/UT-wise detail the herbal garden projects supported across the country under the above said Central Sector Scheme during last five years is at Annexure.

(c): Yes, the Government is providing financial incentives to farmers to promote herbal farming. In this regard the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) throughout the country. Under NAM scheme, there is a component on ‘Medicinal Plants’ which primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants on farmer’s land with backward linkages through establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material, and forward linkages for post-harvest management. Presently, 140 medicinal plants species have been prioritized for supporting cultivation throughout the country for which the subsidy is provided to farmers @ 30%, 50% and 75% of cost of cultivation. The cultivation programme is implemented through the identified implementing agency of concerned state and the financial assistance is provided as per the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State.

(e): The National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH is not proposing to increase the number of herbal gardens with participation from private sector.

(f): Currently, there is no proposal with National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH to set up herbal garden in Jharkhand and in Rajasthan including Sikar.


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