Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/New Delhi, 25 Mar: In response to a question raised in Parliament by Haridwar MP and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat, the Ministry of AYUSH shared detailed information about ongoing schemes to promote the conservation, development, and cultivation of medicinal plants across the country.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, stated in his reply that the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has undertaken extensive work over the past five years for the conservation, promotion, and sustainable management of medicinal plants nationwide.
According to data provided by the ministry, Uttarakhand is among the states showing notable performance in this sector. A total of 26 projects have been approved in the state, with approximately Rs 7.0021 crore (Rs 700.21 lakh) released. This highlights Uttarakhand’s strong and growing position among leading states in the development and cultivation of medicinal plants.
The ministry also informed the House that, from the year 2023–24, efforts are being made under an integrated component to strengthen the supply chain of medicinal plants. This includes promoting quality planting material, marketing, processing, and value addition. Under this initiative, a target has been set to bring around 2,000 hectares of land under medicinal plant cultivation across the country.
To simplify and bring transparency to the marketing of medicinal plants, the “e-Charak” mobile application has also been launched. This app helps farmers connect with markets across the country, access price information, and establish links between buyers and sellers.
MP Trivendra Singh Rawat said that Uttarakhand, due to its geographical and biodiversity advantages, has immense potential for medicinal plants. He added that central government schemes are accelerating the realisation of this potential.
He further stated that the cultivation of medicinal plants will not only increase farmers’ income but also play a significant role in establishing Uttarakhand as an herbal hub.
Expressing gratitude to the central government and the Ministry of AYUSH, he said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, continuous efforts are being made to strengthen the rural economy by integrating traditional knowledge with modern market systems.
