Lok Sabha Question No. 1461 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Schemes to Encourage Farmers to Cultivate Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Raja A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1461

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## SCHEMES TO ENCOURAGE FARMERS TO CULTIVATE MEDICINAL PLANTS

1461.  SHRI RAJA A.:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Government  to  encourage farmers to cultivate medicinal/herbal plants;
- (b) the details of the activities carried out under these schemes in the country during the last five years including Tamil Nadu; and
- (c) the  details  of  projects  supported  under  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  conservation, development  and  sustainable  management  of  medicinal  plants  to  different  organizations throughout the country during the last five years and their impact thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) & (b): Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented for holistic growth of the horticulture sector in the country  covering  fruits,  vegetables,  root  and  tuber  crops,  mushrooms,  spices,  flowers, aromatic and medicinal plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. All States and UTs including Tamil Nadu are covered under MIDH.

Under MIDH scheme, assistance is being provided @ 40% maximum cost of Rs. 1.5 Lakh/ha for area expansion of short duration medicinal plants i.e. non-perennial in nature and non-tree species and in the case of NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas including TSP  (Tribal  Sub  Plan)  areas,  vibrant  villages,  Andaman  &  Nicobar  and  Lakshadweep Islands,  assistance  is  provided  @  50%  of  maximum  cost  for  an  area  upto  2  ha.  per beneficiary.

Apart  from  the  above,  National  Medicinal  Plant  Board  (NMPB),  Ministry  of  Ayush, had formulated a draft scheme namely 'Pradhan Mantri Vriksh Ayush Yojana' to boost the cultivation, production and  to establish post-harvest  management  infrastructure  and marketing  of  medicinal  plants  in  the  country.  Beside  this,  NMPB  is  implementing  Central Sector  Scheme  (CSS)  on  'Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable  Management  of Medicinal  Plants'  throughout  the  country  including  Tamil  Nadu.  The  scheme  is  aimed  at providing  project-based  support  for  the  different  activities.  The  Forward  and  backward linkage in supply  chain of  medicinal plants (Integrated Component)  is  one  of  the components of CSS scheme wherein following activities are supported:

-  Infrastructure for Quality Planting Material to raise the planting material of medicinal plants for cultivation.
-  Information Education Communication (IEC) activities to aware the farmers.
-  Infrastructure for Post-Harvest Management  and  Marketing to increase the marketability  of  the  medicinal  plants,  adding  value  to  the  produce,  increasing profitability and reducing losses.
-  Quality Testing and Certification of raw material.

Further the National  Medicinal Plants  Board (NMPB)  Ministry  of Ayush through its Regional Cum Facilitation Centres (RCFCs) established in different regions of the country is providing training to farmers/ collectors for Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Field Collection  Practices  (GFCPs)  and  also  provides  Quality  Planting  Material  (QPM)  for  the cultivation of medicinal/herbal plants in various states / UTs of the country.

(c): Implementation  of  various  projects  by  NMPB,  ensures  Involvement  of  communitybased  organizations  (CBOs)  in  conservation,  sustainable  harvesting  and  improvement  of the socio-economic status of grass root level people. Details of the projects supported/approved under various categories of Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants to different organizations throughout the country during the last five years is as under:

| S. No.   | Name of the Category                                       |   No. of Projects approved |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1        | Conservation, Resource Augmentation, support to JFMCs etc. |                         18 |
| 2        | Research and Development                                   |                         60 |
| 3        | Integrated Component                                       |                          9 |
| 4        | Herbal Garden                                              |                        172 |
| 5        | Marketing                                                  |                          2 |
| 6        | Information Education Communication                        |                        157 |
|          | Total                                                      |                        418 |

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