The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Government of India under its Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) is providing financial assistance as subsidy to farmers to encourage cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants throughout the country.
Under NAM scheme, there is a component on ‘Medicinal Plants’ which is primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants on farmer’s land with backward linkages through establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material, and forward linkages for post-harvest management. Presently, 140 medicinal plants species have been prioritized for supporting cultivation throughout the country for which the subsidy is provided to farmers in following pattern:
(i) 75% subsidy for cultivation of medicinal plants which are highly endangered.
(ii) 50% subsidy for cultivation of medicinal plants where sources of supply are critically declining.
(iii) 30% subsidy for cultivation of other medicinal plants species which need support.
The cultivation programme is implemented through the identified implementing agency of concerned state (generally State Agriculture / Horticulture Departments) and the financial assistance is provided as per the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State. As per scheme guidelines, the financial assistance to North Eastern and hilly State of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir is provided in the ratio of 90:10, where as in other states it is shared in the ratio of 60:40 between Central and State Government.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.