It is estimated that more than 8,000 species of herbs / medicinal plants are found in India.
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH is presently implementing following schemes to encourage farming/ cultivation, conservation, and promotion of medicinal & herbal plants throughout the country:
1. Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM). Under ‘Medicinal Plants’ component of the NAM scheme, large scale farming/ cultivation of medicinal plants is being supported. As per the scheme guidelines, the support is being provided for:
- Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer’s land
- Establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material
- Post-harvest management
- Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.
- Providing subsidy to farmers @ 30%, 50% and 75% based on cost of cultivation.
2. Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants”. Under the scheme, the project based support is being provided for:
- In-situ conservation through development of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs)
- Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gardens
- Linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs)
- IEC activities (Training/ workshops and Seminars etc.)
- Research & Development etc.
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