Lok Sabha Question No. 4095 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-10
Subject: Survey of Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL, PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH, DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 4095 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH AUGUST, 2018

## SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

## 4095. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  to  identify  medicinal/aromat plants/various  herbs  in  the  country  particularly  in  Himalayan,  Western  Ghats  and  North Region, if so, the details thereof indicating the estimated potential of these pl ants, State/ UT -wise;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government for documentation, protection, farming and commer exploitation of these plants along with the funds allocated for the purpose;
- (c) whether the Government proposes any incentives to the farm ers to p omote herbal farming and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  for  set  up  a  university  or  institute  specifica conservation and promotion of medicinal plants; and
- (e) 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): The Botanical Survey of India (BSI), an organization under Ministry of Environme Forest  and  Climate  Change  mandated  for  survey  of  plant  diversity  of  the  country; documentation, including traditional knowledge associated with it at National, Regional , St te and  Ecosystem  level  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  The  BSI  is  carrying  out  surv documentation of all plant resources of the country including medicinal/aromatic plants/ herbs and it is estimated that more than 8000 species of medic inal herbs and medicinal plants are found in the country. As per BSI information, about 3000 species of medicinal plants i Himalayan Region, 1500 species in West Himalayan Region and 2000 species in Western Ghats are found.

(b): Presently,  the  National  Medicinal  Plants  Board  (NMPB),  Ministry  of  AYUSH, Government of India is implementing a Central Sector Scheme on 'Conservation, Development and  Sustainable  Management  of  Medicinal  Plants'  under  which  project  based  support  is  also pr ovided  for  survey,  inventorization, in - situ conservation  through  development  of  Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs), ex- situ conservation through establishment of herbal gardens etc. The funds allocated for the scheme during last t hree years is as below:

| Name of the Scheme                      | Financial Year       |   Fund Allocated (Rs. In Crore) |
|-----------------------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|
| Central Sector Scheme on 'Conservation, | 2015- 16             |                           68.88 |
| Development and                         | Sustainable 2016- 17 |                           70    |
| Management of Medicinal Plants'         | 2017- 18             |                           71    |

For  farming  and commercial  exploitation  of  medicinal/aromatic  plants/herbs,  the Ministry of AYUSH presently promoting large scale cultivation under its Centrally Spons scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM).

(c): Yes,  the  Ministry  of AYUSH,  Government  of  India under  its  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme  of  National  AYUSH  Mission  (NAM)  is  providing  financial  assistance  as  subsidy  t farmers to promote farming of herbs/medicinal plants throughout the country.

Under  NAM  scheme,  there  is  a  component  on  'Medicinal  Plants' which  is  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 linkages  for  post - harvest  management.    Presently, 140  medicinal  plants  species  have  been prioritized for supporting cultivation throughout the country for which the subsidy is pr farmers @ 30%, 50% and 75% of cost of cultivation. As per NAM scheme guidelines, t he fund under  this  component  is  shar ed  in  the  ratio  of  60:40  between  Central  and  State  Government whereas it is in the ratio of 90:10 in North East & Hilly Regions states and financed Central  Government  in  Union  Territories  (UTs). The  cultivation  programme  is  implemented through the identified implementing  agency  of  concerned state and the  financial  assistanc provided as per the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State.

(d) & (e): Yes, there is a proposal to set up a National Institute of Medicinal Plants country  under  Ministry  of  AYUSH,  Government  of  India.  For  the  purpose,  the  Ministry AYUSH, has identified a location at District Jalgaon of Maharashtra State.

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