Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has decided to develop Clusters on the lines of SEZs all over the country with a cost of Rs.100 crore to promote medicinal and herbal plants and increase its current export of Rs. 500 crore to Rs.1000 crore annually.
Inaugurating the ASSOCHAM Herbal Summit on Medical & Aromatic Products here today, S Jalaja, Secretary, Dept. of Ayush, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare further said that these clusters are coming up in Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Assam and North East and many other locations are being identified.
“The government has already allocated Rs.4000 crore in the 11th plan period and out of Rs.4000 crore, Rs.1000 crore has been earmarked for the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) to promote medicinal plants in India. Remaining Rs.3000 crore will spend towards the various central and state government schemes, she informed.
The Secretary further informed at the ASSOCHAM Summit that the department has also identified over Six Medicinal Plants Zones in Agro Climatical Zones on the key locations like Kanyakumari.
She further announced that a Centrally sponsored component for cultivation, processing, and marketing of medicinal plants is being started from the outlay of NMPB. This will have sub components for financial allocation, cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants species over 75000 hectares; raising of 50 lakh seedlings, setting up of centralized Seed Centre and nursery for cultivating planting materials for 15 States.
There are around 45,000 species of medicinal and herbal plants are available in the country but the Indian industry has yet to explore the commercial potential including the export of such plants.
However, she felt confident that within 5-10 years, medicinal and herbal sector will take over the Allopathy sector and in its initiatives, the government has earmarked 8 states. The Secretary called the industry to participate in the promotion of medicinal and herbal plants as the government is willing to be a facilitator for the promotion of such plants.
On the importance of medicinal plants, the Secretary informed that out of 2000 diseases, only 30% diseases can be cured by the bio-medical sciences and the rest of them are uncured. These diseases can be cured by the herbal and medicinal plants provided the industry and the government can work together.
B S Sajwan, CEO, NMPB said that 20% to 70% subsidies will be given to farmers for growing medicinal plants across the country and 80-1 lakh hectares of the land will be covered during the 11th five year plan. Total budget for the such subsidies will be Rs.630 crore and will be able to generate 6 crore mandate.
Amongst others who spoke on the occasion include Shashank Sandu, Chairman, Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association, Dr. B K Rao, Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Mr. D S Rawat, ASSOCHAM Secretary General.
Source: ASSOCHAM
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