Skip to content
Spin & Win — Health-and-wellness — environmental-science — Explore Symphony Symbiotics' Investment Opportunities

India's bold plan to save medicinal plants and boost farmer incomes

A digital revolution meets ancient wisdom as India's farmers gain new tools to protect medicinal plants—and their own futures. Can this scheme transform rural livelihoods?

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
The image shows a poster with a map of India in the center, surrounded by text that reads "A Great...
The image shows a poster with a map of India in the center, surrounded by text that reads "A Great Industry Where Our Tea Comes From". The map is filled with various shades of green, blue, and yellow, representing the different regions of India. The text is written in a bold, black font, emphasizing the importance of the message.

India's bold plan to save medicinal plants and boost farmer incomes

The Ministry of Ayush is pushing ahead with a major scheme to conserve medicinal plants and improve farmers' incomes. Through the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), the initiative focuses on sustainable cultivation, better supply chains, and cutting out middlemen. Recent efforts include a new digital trading platform and expanded conservation projects across multiple states. Between 2015 and 2021, the Ministry backed the cultivation of medicinal plants on 12,551 hectares in Madhya Pradesh. Farmers received ₹15.85 crore in central funding to support these efforts. The scheme also introduced in-situ conservation by developing Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) to protect species in their natural habitats.

Ex-situ conservation has been strengthened through herbal gardens, preserving plants outside their native regions. In Gujarat's Kutch district, a project is underway to boost in-situ resource augmentation of medicinal plants. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh has approved 63 post-harvest units to reduce losses after harvesting.

To improve market access, the NMPB launched the e-CHARAK platform. It promotes price transparency and direct trade, with over 1.11 lakh registered users and 7,500 items listed so far. The scheme also builds supply chain infrastructure, linking farmers to markets through forward and backward systems.

A new ₹119.95 lakh project in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district will focus on raising planting material and setting up marketing facilities. The initiative collaborates with local groups like Panchayats, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) to create sustainable livelihoods for rural communities. The scheme continues to expand, with fresh funding and projects in multiple states. Farmers gain better market access, reduced post-harvest losses, and stronger conservation support. The Ministry's efforts aim to secure the future of medicinal plants while improving incomes for those involved in their cultivation.

Read also:

Related

Latest