GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 611
ANSWERED ON:07.05.2010
CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS.
(a)the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government to promote cultivation of the medicinal aromatic and herbal plants in the country;
(b)the provisions made to provide financial assistance under the schemes;
(c)whether the Union Government has received project proposals for the grant of financial assistance under the said schemes;
(d)if so, the details thereof during the last two years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(e)the action taken thereon alongwith the funds released for the purpose?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (e):A statement is laid on the Table of the House. STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.611 FOR 07-05-2010
The schemes being implemented by various Departments of the Government to promote cultivation of medicinal, aromatic and herbal plants are as under: i.Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants implemented by National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare;
ii.National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme implemented by National Afforestation and Eco-deveiopment Board (NAEB), Ministry of Environment & Forests;
iii.Centrally Sponsored Scheme on National Horticulture Mission implemented by Department of Agriculture & Co-operation; and
iv.Centrally Sponsored Scheme `Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States including Sikkim implemented by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation;
2.The details of these schemes are as under :-
(i)Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants;
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants is being implemented from 2008-09 of the 11th Plan by the National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of AYUSH. The scheme is primarily aimed at supporting market driven medicinal plants cultivation on private lands with backward linkages for nurseries and forward linkages for post-harvest management, marketing infrastructure, certification, crop insurance in a mission mode. This is being achieved by cultivation of medicinal plants in identified clusters / zones within selected districts of States having potential for cultivation of medicinal plants and to promote such cultivation following Good Agricultural Practices through growers, farmers, cultivators, growers associations, federations, SHG`s, corporates and grower`s co-operatives.
Financial assistance is provided under the scheme for establishment of model and small nurseries in public sector with 100% assistance and private sectors with 50% assistance for supply of quality planting material.
Similarly assistance ranging from 20% to 75% is also provided for commercial cultivation of medicinal plants. For the 11th Plan, an outlay of Rs.630.00 crores has been allocated under this scneme. A sum of Rs.2935.15 lakhs and Rs. 6925 lakhs has been released for the year 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. State-wise details of funds released, during these years are given at Annexure-I. No funds have yet been released during the year 2010-11.
(ii)National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme;
National Afforestation and Eco~development Board does not have any specific scheme to promote the cultivation of medicinal, aromatic and herbal plants in the country. However, funds are being provided under National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme for plantation under different plantation models of which two models namely `Mixed plantation of trees having MFP and medicinal value` and `Regeneration of perennial herbs and shrubs of medicinal value` which are aimed at regenerating medicinal plants also. A sum of Rs. 345.62 lakhs and Rs. 318 17 lakhs has been released under the NAP scheme during the year 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively. State-wise details of the funds released under the NAP scheme during the last two years (2008-09 and 2009-10) are given at Annexure-ll. No funds have yet been released under the scheme during the current year.
(iii)Centrally Sponsored Scheme on National Horticulture Mission;
Centrally Sponsored Scheme on National Horticulture Mission (NHM) is being implemented since 2005-06 for holistic development of horticulture sector duly ensuring forward and backward linkages with the active participation of all the stakeholders. All the states and Union Territories are covered under the Mission except the eight North Eastern States including Sikkim and the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand. A sum of Rs. 413.00 lakhs has been released during the year 2008-09 for medicinal plants and no funds have been released for medicinal plants under the scheme during the year 2009-10 and 2010-11 Similarly, a sum of Rs. 948.01 lakhs and 402.10 lakhs has been released for aromatic plants under the scheme during the year 2008-09 and 2003-10, respectively. State-wise details of the funds released under the NHM scheme during the last two years (2008-09 and 2009-10) are given at Annexure-lll. No funds have been released for aromatic plants under this scheme during current year.
(iv)Centrally Sponsored Scheme `Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States including Sikkim;
Centrally Sponsored Scheme `Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States including Sikkim is being implemented by Department of Agriculture since 2001-02. The scheme was further extended to three other hilly states namely Jammu & Kashmir HP and Uttarakhand during the year 2003-04. A sum of Rs. 123.76 lakhs and Rs. 30.55 lakhs has been released for medicinal plants during the year 2008-09 & 2009-10, respectively. Similarly, a sum of Rs. 123.85 lakhs and 83.40 lakhs has been released for aromatic plants during the year 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively under the Technology Mission Scheme. State-wise details of the funds released under the Technology Mission scheme during the last two years (2008-09 and 2009-10) are given at Annexure-IV. No funds ru.ve been released for medicinal plants under this scheme during current year.