By PIB Delhi
Measures are taken to promote the cultivation of Medicinal Plants
As per the study entitled ‘Medicinal Plants in India: An Assessment of their Demand and Supply, Ved and Goraya (2017)’ conducted by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and supported by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), the annual demand of herbs / medicinal plants in the country was estimated about 5,12,000 Metric Tonnes in 2014-15. As per the study, about 1178 medicinal plant species are recorded in practices of trade, out of which 242 species are traded at a high volume of more than 100 MT per annum. Further analysis of these 242 species revealed that 173species (72%) are collected from wild sources.
The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, had implemented the Centrally Sponsored of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21 to promote the cultivation of Medicinal Plants throughout the country. Under the Medicinal Plants component of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme, support was provided for:
- Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land.
- Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supplying quality planting material.
- Post-harvest management with forwarding linkages.
- Primary processing, marketing infrastructure, etc.
To date, the Ministry of Ayush has supported the cultivation of medicinal plants to cover an area of 56,305 hectares throughout the country from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21.
Presently, the National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India is implementing a Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” wherein the following activities are supported:
- In situ conservation / Ex-situ conservation Central linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- IEC activities like Training / Workshops / Seminars/ Conferences, etc.
- Research & Development.
- Promotion, marketing, and trade of medicinal plant produce.
This information was given by the Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
