Lok Sabha Question No. 2355 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Promotion of Local Medicinal Plant Species
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA ADMITTED UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2355 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## ' Promotion of Local Medicinal Plant Species '

## †2355 . Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any special scheme is being implemented by the Government for conservation  and promotion of local medicinal plant species found in different States of the country, especially in tribal and rural areas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the works undertaken for establishment of nurseries, provision of  incentives and training  of  farmers  for      conservation  and  cultivation  of  medicinal  plants  under  the  said schemes in the country;
- (d) whether  financial  assistance,  marketing  facilities  and  minimum  support  price  are  being provided  to  farmers  and  tribal  communities  under  these  schemes  to  promote  cultivation  of medicinal plants;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the concrete action plan proposed by the Government in this regard for the future?

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

(a)  &  (b): Yes, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush is currently implementing 'Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management  of  Medicinal  Plants' for  promotion  of  medicinal  plant  sector  throughout  the country  covering  the  tribal  and  rural  areas.  Under  the  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. Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gardens.
- iv. Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van  Panchayats  /  Biodiversity  Management  Committees  (BMCs)  /  Self  Help  Groups (SHGs).
- v. IEC activities like Training / workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc.
- vi. Research & Development.
- vii. Promotion of marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
- viii. Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants.

(c): Under the NMPB's Central Sector Scheme, there is also a provision to provide project based support  for  development  of  nursery  /Quality  Planting  Material  (QPM)  and  species  specific campaign.  Under  the  scheme,  during  the  last  five  years  and  current  years  22  no.  of  projects supported for Nursery development.

Under  the  above ' Central  Sector  Scheme ' ,  there  is  also  provision  to  support  project  on Promotion of Information Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create  awareness regarding Ayush Systems of Medicine including Ayurvedic and other System of medicine. The support  is  also  provided    to  encourage  farmers  to  cultivate  medicinal  plants,  disseminate information  on  different  aspects  of  medicinal  plants  like  harvesting  from  wild,  cultivation technologies, manufacturing, proper handling of raw material, trade etc. Under the above, during the last five years total 24 no. of projects supported for training and capacity building.

(d)  &  (e): To  facilitate  the  marketing  of  medicinal  plants,  the  NMPB,  Ministry of Ayush has launched  ' e-CHARAK '  mobile  application  as  well  as  web  portal  for  the  promotion  and marketing of medicinal plants/herbs. 'e -CHARAK' is a platform to enable information exchange between various stakeholders mainly farmers involved in the medicinal plants sector across the country.  The  'e -CHARAK'  application  is  available  in  different  local  language s.  Fortnightly market  price  of  100  MPs  from  25  herbal  markets  across  India  is  updated  regularly  on  eCHARAK platform for easy market access.

(f): To  increase  the  supply  chain  based  demand  on  availability  of  quality  planting  material, training, post-harvest management infrastructure and marketing of medicinal plants produce, a component viz. 'Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants' (Integrated Component)  has been added in scheme guideline.