Lok Sabha Question No. 785 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Cultivation and Production of Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, T.R.V.S. Ramesh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 785 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY , 2021

## CULTIVATION AND PROD UCTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

## 785. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

SHRI T.R.V.S. RAMESH:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Medicinal  Plant  Board (NMPB)  and  National  Botanical  Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI)  have  signed  an  MoU recently  for  extending collaboration  to  boost Medicinal Plants/Harbs in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the terms of cooperation therein;
- (c) whether the MoU would facilitate the development of Quality Planting Material (QPM) of medicin al  plants/herbs  identified  by  NMPB,  establish nurseries  as  well  as  development, promotion, conservation and cultivation of appropriate medicinal plants, including endangered species, in different agroclimatic zones/high - altitude reasons, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the NMPB would support CSIR - NB I in establishing seed/gene banks and carrying out  the Germplasm  collection/conservation  of  potential  medicinal plant  species  with  high commercial value, and, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)whether  NMPB  has  issued  instructions/ guidelines  to  implementing  agencies  like  State Medicinal Plants Boards (SMPB) in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (DR. MUNJPARA MAHEND RABHAI)

- (a): Yes.  TheNational  Medicinal  Plants  Board  (NMPB),  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  recently signed an MoUwith the National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR - NBRI) to develop Quality Planting Material (QPM) of medicinal plants/ herbs.
- (b): The  MoU  has  been  signed  for  extending  collaboration  to  boost  the  medicinal  pla sector in India. The tenure of MoU is for three years from the date of signing. The terms of cooperation of the MoU are given at Annexure - I
- (c): Yes. The MoU would facilitate the development of Quality Planting Material (QPM) o medicinal  plants/  herbs  identified  by  NMPB,  the  establishment  o f  nurseries  as  well  as development, promotion, conservation and cultivation of appropriate medicinal plants, inc threatened medicinal plant species, in different agro - climatic zones/ high -altitude regions of the country. The details given at Annexure - I

(d): Yes. Under this MoU, theNMPB would support CSIR - NBRI in project mode for the establishment  of  seed/gene  banks  and  carry  out  the  Germplasm  collection/  conservation potential medicinal plant species with high commercial value. The details given at Annexure - I

(e): NMPB will work through its implementing agencies i.e. State Medicinal Plants Board State Ayush Societies, State Horticulture Departments, Regional - cum - Facilitation  Centres  etc. The details given at Annexure - I

## Annexure-I

## ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN NMPB AND NBRI-CSIR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY PLANTING MATERIALS (QPM)

## Role and Responsibilities of NMPB

During  the  term  and tenure  of  MoU,  NMPB  will  work  through  its  implementing agencies i.e. State Medicinal Plant Boards, State Ayush Societies, State Horticulture Departments, Regional-cum-Facilitation Centres working across India in conjunction and  collaboration  with  CSIR-NBRI  to  facilitate  the  following  within  the  scope  of  the NMPB mandate:-

1. To identify the potential medicinal plant species with high commercial value for the germplasm collection/conservation and establishment of nursery and  seed banks/gene banks.
2. To  support  CSIR-NBRI  in  carrying  out  the  work  listed  above  at  item  no.  1  by providing financial assistance in a project mode  for the establishment of germplasm/seed banks for the medicinal plants identified by NMPB.
3. To evaluate and recommend projects by the concerned Screening Committee and place the approved projects before the Standing finance committee for approval and accordingly provide budgetary support on case to case basis.

## Role and Responsibilities of CSIR-NBRI

1. To  develop  Quality  Planting  Material (QPM) of  medicinal  plants  and  herbs identified  by  NMPB,  establish  their  plant  nurseries  for  QPM,  development, promotion,  conservation  and  cultivation  of  the  appropriate  medicinal  plants  in different  agro-climatic  zones,  including  the  rare,  endangered  and threatened medicinal plants species or plants for the high altitude regions.
2. To undertake mass multiplication, agro-technology development, Quality Planting Material generation of selected medicinal plants and herbs.

*Note: The QPM protocol will be developed with mutual agreement.