Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM). Under ‘Medicinal Plants’ component of the NAM scheme supporting market driven cultivation of prioritised medicinal plants in identified cluster/zones in selected districts of States implemented in a mission mode.

As per the scheme guidelines, the support is provided for:

  1. Cultivation of prioritised medicinal plants on farmer’s land.
  2. Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supply of quality planting material.
  3. Post-harvest management with forward linkages.
  4. Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.

Under this scheme, subsidy @30%, 50% and 75% of cultivation cost of specific plant species is provided for cultivation of 140 medicinal plants.

National Medicinal plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, is also implementing Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” wherein following activities are supported:

  1. In-situ conservation / Ex-situ conservation
  2. Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs).
  3. IEC activities like Training / workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc.
  4. Research & Development.
  5. Promotion, marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.

Ministry of AYUSH is supporting cultivation of medicinal plants on farmer’s land throughout the country by providing subsidy for 140 medicinal plants @30%, 50% and 75% of cost of its cultivation depending on the status of availability and market demand as per operational guidelines of the Scheme. The Ministry of AYUSH has supported 56,396 hectare area under cultivation of Medicinal Plants under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) scheme.

Ministry of Finance has announced Rs 4,000 crore package under Atma Nirbhar Bharat for Promotion of Herbal Cultivation. The Ministry of AYUSH has prepared a draft scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri VRIKSH AYUSH Yojana” for cultivation and marketing of medicinal plants which is yet to be approved by the Cabinet. The scheme will be implemented throughout the country, according to a PIB release.

Minister of State (The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy),  Kiren Rijiju (Additional Charge), stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2021.