a) the number of farmers in the country engaged in cultivation of medicinal plants, State/UT-wise;
b) whether the Government provides subsidy for the cultivation of medicinal plants;
c) if so, the amount of assistance provided in this regard during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
d) whether the farmers are not being made aware about the cultivation of medicinal plants; and
e) if so, the reasons therefor along with the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF AYUSH
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) Ministry of Ayush, Government of India under medicinal plants component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) had provided financial assistance in form of subsidy to encourage the farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants throughout the country from the F.Y. 2015-16 to 2020-21.The cultivation activities wereimplemented through the identified implementing agency of concerned state as per the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State. Till date, Ministry of Ayush has supported 59,350 farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants and covered 56,305 hectare areathroughout the country from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21. The state-wise detail of farmers and area covered under cultivation is given at Annexure – I & II.
(b) Yes, Sir / Madam. Under medicinal plants component of National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme, the Ministry of Ayush has provided subsidy for the cultivation of medicinal plants throughout the country.
(c) The Ministry of Ayush has supported financial assistance Rs. 6305.24 lakh under cultivation of medicinal plants throughout the country. The detail of State-wise fund supported for cultivation of medicinal plants under medicinal plants component of National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme from the F.Y. 2018-19 to 2020-21 is given at Annexure-III.
(d) No, Sir / Madam.There was a provision to support the training programmes, seminars/ workshops / Buyer-seller meet / Exposure visits on cultivation practices to aware the farmersunder flexi component of ‘Medicinal Plants’ component under National Ayush Mission scheme. Till date, Ministry of Ayush has supported 235 number of seminars/ workshops / Buyer-seller meet / Exposure visits and training for 19061 farmers to the concerned implementing agencies. The detail of activities supported under flexi component is given at Annexure – IV& V.
Besides this National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush is providing financial assistance to organize awareness building program, exposure visits, education and capacity building of stakeholders through Information Education and Communication (IEC) strategy under Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for conservation, development and sustainable management of medicinal plants.
(e) Notapplicable.