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Panel asks Ministry of Ayush to improve support related to cultivation of medicinal plants
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
December 29 , 2025
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The Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has sought the Ministry of Ayush to take various steps to optimise the strategic reach of the Ayush system, including investments into research and development (R&D) to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system.
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in the 168th report on action taken by the government on the recommendations the Panel has made in the 165th report on Demands for Grants 2025-26 of the Ministry of Ayush, as part of this, has also sought the Ministry to establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact of its initiatives supporting the farmers of medicinal plants.
The Panel, which looked into the response from the Ministry and various autonomous and research bodies under the Ministry on its previous recommendations, said that it is not satisfied with the response of the Ministry related to optimising the strategic reach of the Ayush system.
It reiterated that the Ministry should explore the possibility of setting up of Special Export Zones and more Regional Centres to optimize the strategic reach of the Ayush Systems.
"The Committee also recommends the Ministry to promote medicinal plant cultivation and invest in R&D to demonstrate the effectiveness of Ayush Systems to potentially attracting more funding and support," said the Panel headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, in the report presented in the Rajya Sabha recently.
In this regard, NMPB is expected to emphasise on R&D on medicinal plants, development of Agro-technologies, post-harvest management for expanding the horizon of Ayush System in underserved region as well as global market.
"The Ministry of Ayush must direct- NMPB management to strive in this direction," it added.
The Panel appreciated the efforts of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) in supporting farmers and stakeholders through infrastructure, skill development, and quality certification.
However, to fully realize the potential of the medicinal plants sector as a catalyst of economic growth and livelihood enhancement, it recommended that NMPB further strengthen its initiatives by promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. This includes launching incubation programs, facilitating market access through digital platforms, and piloting cluster-based and community-owned models.
Special focus should be given to tribal and marginalized communities to integrate traditional knowledge into formal value chains. Additionally, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework should be established to assess the impact of these initiatives, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth of all stakeholders.
"The Committee firmly believes that effective implementation of the Central Sector Scheme in Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants would go a long way in promoting the medicinal plant sector. Therefore, NMPB must formulate innovative schemes so that farmers engaged in cultivation of medicinal plants would enhance their livelihood system," it added.
The Ministry, in its response to the Panel's earlier recommendation for special export zone and other initiatives to optimize strategic reach of the Ayush system, stated that a number of projects are funded and ongoing related to research and development of medicinal plants.
The Ministry also said that NMPB supports projects under integrated component namely ?Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants in the existing Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants to encourage the farmers by providing the facilities like nursery to raise the quality planting material/seeds, infrastructure for post-harvest management units (storage, drying sheds), value addition, marketing, sensitization programs for skill development, certification for quality raw material in a synergistic manner.
Besides this, NMPB supports establishment of nurseries to raise the planting material among the farmers. NMPB also supports project for IEC activities to promote the medicinal plants sector, it informed.
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