Lok Sabha Question No. 5745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Management of Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED ADMITTED QUESTION NO.  5745 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  MARCH, 2026

## ' Management of Medicinal Plants '

## 5745. Shri C N Annadurai:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing schemes for the conservation, cultivation and sustainable management of medicinal plants in the country through the National Medicinal Plants Board under his Ministry and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of assistance provided under the Central Sector Scheme on "Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants" including support for the establishment of Home Herbal Gardens, School Herbal Gardens, Institutional/Public  Herbal  Gardens  and  Herbal  Gardens  of  State  and  National Importance;
- (c) the details of financial assistance and subsidy provided to farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants under the National AYUSH Mission during the last five years;
- (d) the  number  of  herbal  gardens,  nurseries  and  medicinal  plant  cultivation  projects sanctioned in Tamil Nadu along with the funds allocated and utilised, year-wise; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  further  promote  medicinal  plant  cultivation, herbal gardens and farmer participation in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a):  Yes,  the  National  Medicinal  Plants  Board  (NMPB),  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  presently implementing 'Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable Management  of  Medicinal  Plants' throughout  the  country.  Under  this  scheme,  the  project based support is provided for following activities:

- i. In-situ  conservation  through  development  of  Medicinal  Plants  Conservation  and Development Areas (MPCDAs).
- ii. In-situ/Ex-situ resource augmentation.
- iii. Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity  Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc.
- iv. Research & Development.
- v. IEC activities like Training / Workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc.
- vi. Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gardens.
- vii. Promotion of marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
- viii. Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants.

(b):  The details  of assistance provided under the "Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development  and  Sustainable  Management  of  Medicinal  Plants" for  various  activities including School Herbal Gardens, Institutional/Public Herbal Gardens and Herbal Gardens of State and National Importance is given at Annexure-I.

(c): Ministry of Ayush, Government  of India had implemented 'M edicinal Plants ' component under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) during the  financial  year  2015-16  to  2020-21  to  promote  the  cultivation  of  medicinal  plants throughout the country. As per the scheme guidelines, the support was provided for:

- i. Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer's land.
- ii. Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supply of quality planting material.
- iii. Post-harvest management with forwarding linkages.
- iv. Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.

The financial  assistance  provided  to  different  States  for  cultivation  of  medicinal  plants under NAM Scheme during financial year 2020-21 is given at Annexure-II.

(d): The number of Herbal Gardens, Nursery projects sanctioned in state of Tamil Nadu, funds allocated and utilized from year 2004-05 to 2024-25 are at Annexure-III .

To support cultivation of medicinal plants in state of Tamil Nadu, the NMPB, Ministry of Ayush  under  its 'Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable Management  of  Medicinal  Plants' has  approved  a  project  entitled  "Forward  and  backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants (Integrated component) TNAU' to Tamil Nadu

Agricultural University (TNAU), Tamil Nadu for an amount of Rs. 95.00 lakh during the F.Y. 2024-25 with the objectives to raise Quality Planting Material (1 Nursery) for distribution to farmers  for  medicinal  plants  cultivation  and  establishment  of  infrastructure  for  Post-Harvest Management and Marketing.

(e): The NMPB, Ministry of Ayush through its Regional Cum Facilitation Centre (Southern Region), Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala facilitates Quality Planting Material (QPM) to the farmers / growers and involve their participation for promotion of medicinal plants cultivation in state of Tamil Nadu.

For  establishment  of  different  types  of  Herbal  Gardens viz. School  Herbal  Gardens, Institutional  /  Public  Herbal  Gardens  /Ayush  van,  Herbal  Gardens  of  State  and  National Importance, the NMPB, Ministry of Ayush as per provision of its 'Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants', is  providing project based support throughout the country including state of Tamil Nadu.

Annexure-I

The  details  of  assistance  provided  under 'Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants' for various activities on medicinal plants

| S. No.   | Component/ Activity                                                              | Cost Norm                                                              | Remarks                                                                |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| i        | In-situ conservation                                                             | In-situ conservation                                                   | In-situ conservation                                                   |
|          | a) Establishment of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) | Rs. 20,000 per hectare                                                 | 100% Central Assistance                                                |
|          | b) Revisit and upgradation of MPCA                                               | Rs. 5000/- per hectare                                                 | 100% Assistance                                                        |
|          | c) Assistance for mainstreaming Medicinal Plants in Management / Working Plans   | Rs. 1.50 lakh per forest Division / Wildlife Division                  | 100% Assistance                                                        |
|          | d) in-situ resource augmentation                                                 | Cost norms of MoEF&CC under National Afforestation Programme           | 100% Assistance                                                        |
| ii       | Ex-situ conservation                                                             | Ex-situ conservation                                                   | Ex-situ conservation                                                   |
|          | Ex-situ conservation                                                             | Cost norms of MoEF&CC under CSS National Afforestation Programme       | 100% Assistance                                                        |
|          | Eco Task Force for rehabilitation of critical medicinal plant habitats           | Eco Task Force for rehabilitation of critical medicinal plant habitats | Eco Task Force for rehabilitation of critical medicinal plant habitats |
|          | Eco Task Force                                                                   | Project based                                                          | 100% assistance to the eligible organization                           |
| iii      | Support to JFMCs/ Panchayats/Van Panchayats/ SHGs                                | Support to JFMCs/ Panchayats/Van Panchayats/ SHGs                      | Support to JFMCs/ Panchayats/Van Panchayats/ SHGs                      |
|          | Value addition, drying, warehousing and augmenting marketing infrastructure etc. | Rs.15.00 lakhs per JFMC / Panchayats / Van Panchayats /SHGs / BMCs     | 100% assistance per JFMC / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / SHGs / BMCs   |

| iv   | Research, Technology Development and Quality Assurance                                                         | Research, Technology Development and Quality Assurance                                                        | Research, Technology Development and Quality Assurance                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      | a) R&D Projects on theme areas                                                                                 | Project based                                                                                                 | 100% assistance for Govt. Institutions / PSUs, Govt. Aided Institutions etc. and Non-profit making Philanthropic Organizations with requisite expertise. 50% assistance for projects received from private sector organizations |
|      | b) Network research projects involving two or more institutions                                                | Project based                                                                                                 | 100% assistance for Govt. Institutions/PSUs, Govt. Aided Institutions etc. and Non-profit making Philanthropic Organizations with requisite expertise. 50% assistance for projects received from private sector organizations   |
|      | c) Raw drug repository of medicinal plants                                                                     | Rs.10.00 crores for national raw drugs repository and Rs. 5.00 crores each for regional raw drug repositories | 100% assistance to Govt. Institutions/PSUs. For private organizations assistance would be decided by PAC in project mode                                                                                                        |
|      | Establishing Quality Standards and certification and other interventions not specifically mentioned elsewhere. | Project based                                                                                                 | 100% assistance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| v    | Awareness Building, Exposure Visits, Education and Capacity Building of Stakeholders through IEC               | Awareness Building, Exposure Visits, Education and Capacity Building of Stakeholders through IEC              | Awareness Building, Exposure Visits, Education and Capacity Building of Stakeholders through IEC                                                                                                                                |
|      | a) Training and Capacity Building Programmes for field staff of Forest Dept., Institutions, Universities,      | a) Rs. 2,000 per trainee (farmer) for a minimum of 2 days within the state.                                   | 100% Assistance Travel cost will be limited to 3 rd AC train fares per participants. However, for                                                                                                                               |

|    | Horticulture Dept., Agriculture Dept., Growers and Collectors   | b) Rs. 5,000 per head for exposure visits to other states. c) The expenditure on officers training within the State will be Rs. 5,000/- per officer and outside the State the cost would be restricted to Rs. 10,000 per officer (Travel cost will be additional)   | Govt. Servants it will be as per entitlement. For places not connected by Rail, travel by available modes will be permitted as approved by the PSC/ PAC.                                                                                                                                                                     |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    | b) Workshops/ Seminar/ Arogya                                   | Rs. 1.00 lakhs for District level, Rs. 2.00 lakhs for State level, Rs. 3.00 lakhs for regional level, Rs. 5.00 lakhs for National level Rs. 10.00 lakhs for international level.                                                                                    | 100% assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|    | c) Participation in exhibition/ fair                            | For participation by other Agencies Rs. 1.00 lakh for State level, Rs. 2.00 lakhs for National level Rs. 3.00 lakhs for international level                                                                                                                         | 100% assistance for Govt. Organizations For Private organizations including industries 50% of the prescribed cost or actual expenditure whichever is less (which includes expenditure on Travel, accommodation, Hire charges, stall fabrication, etc.) will be reimbursed. Participation by NMPB will be as per the actuals. |
| vi | Promotion of Herbal Gardens                                     | Promotion of Herbal Gardens                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Promotion of Herbal Gardens                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|    | a) Herbal Gardens of State and National Importance              | As per the project proposal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 100% assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

|     | b) Institutional/ Public Herbal Garden/ Ayush Van                                       | Rs. 3.00 lakhs per hectare for establishment Annual maintenance of the Herbal Garden @ up to Rs.60,000/- per year per ha. for next four years.                                                                                                                                                                       | 100% assistance   |
|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|     | c) School Herbal Gardens                                                                | Rs. 25,000/- per school for an area of 500 sqm. Up to Rs. 7,000/- per annum/ per school for aintenance for next 4 years                                                                                                                                                                                              | 100% assistance   |
| vii | Forward and Backward Linkage in Supply Chain of Medicinal Plants (Integrated Component) | Infrastructure for Quality Planting Material for Medicinal Plants Rs. 50.00 lakh Information Education Communication (IEC) activities- Rs. 7.50 lakh Infrastructure for Post - Harvest Management and Marketing- Rs. 55.00 lakh Quality Testing and Certification - Rs. 7.50 lakh Total Project Cost Rs. 120.00 Lakh | 100% assistance   |

## Annexure-II

The State-wise detail of funds released under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) scheme for cultivation of medicinal plants and related activities during the F.Y. 2020-21

| S. No.   | Name of State     |   Funds Released In F.Y. 2020-21 (Rs. in Lakhs) |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Arunachal Pradesh |                                          26.775 |
| 2.       | Jammu &Kashmir    |                                          22.52  |
| 3.       | Karnataka         |                                         220.965 |
| 4.       | Kerala            |                                         221.767 |
| 5.       | Madhya Pradesh    |                                         230.171 |
| 6.       | Mizoram           |                                          14.645 |
| 7.       | Nagaland          |                                          33.965 |
| 8.       | Sikkim            |                                          18.985 |
| 9.       | Uttar Pradesh     |                                         209.816 |
| Total    | Total             |                                         999.609 |

The  number  of  Herbal  Gardens,  Nursery  projects  sanctioned  under 'Central  Sector Scheme  for  Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable  Management  of  Medicinal Plants' in state of Tamil Nadu, funds allocated and utilized from year 2004-05 to 2024-25

| Years   | Numbe r of project s   | Sanction ed Amount (Rs. in lakhs)   | Released Amount (Rs. in lakhs)   | Utilize d Amou nt (Rs. in lakhs)   | Number of projects   | Sancti oned Amou nt (Rs. in lakhs)   | Releas ed Amou nt (Rs. in lakhs)   | Utilize d Amou nt (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|---------|------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Years   | Herbal Garden          | Herbal Garden                       | Herbal Garden                    | Herbal Garde n                     | Nursery              | Nurser y                             | Nurser y                           | Nurse ry                           |
| 2004-05 | 2                      | 16.00                               | 16.00                            | 16.00                              | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2005-06 | 3                      | 27.75                               | 27.75                            | 27.75                              | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2006-07 | 2                      | 12.60                               | 12.60                            | 12.60                              | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2007-08 | 1                      | 7.00                                | 7.00                             | 7.00                               | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2008-09 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2009-10 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2010-11 | 1                      | 22.00                               | 18.00                            | 18.00                              | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2011-12 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2012-13 | 1                      | 16.06                               | 11.21                            | 11.21                              | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2013-14 | 2                      | 12.60                               | 4.20                             | 4.00                               | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2014-15 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2015-16 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2016-17 | 1                      | 26.50                               | 12.50                            | 0                                  | 1                    | 56.94                                | 42.63                              | 42.63                              |
| 2017-18 | 4                      | 191.55                              | 108.75                           | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2018-19 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 2                    | 0.5625                               | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2019-20 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2020-21 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2021-22 | 5                      | 18.80                               | 10.03                            | 10.03                              | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2022-23 | 9                      | 140.44                              | 51.50                            | 7.50                               | 1                    | 1.25                                 | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2023-24 | 1                      | 10.80                               | 6.00                             | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 2024-25 | 0                      | 0                                   | 0                                | 0                                  | 0                    | 0                                    | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| Total   | 32                     | 502.10                              | 285.54                           | 114.09                             | 4                    | 58.752 5                             | 42.63                              | 42.63                              |