Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, on Monday said that medicinal plant cultivation can play a crucial role in empowering farmers, strengthening the Ayush sector and conserving biodiversity.
Addressing the second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Ayush in New Delhi, Jadhav said the availability of quality medicines under traditional healthcare systems depends on the sustainable supply of high-quality raw material sourced from medicinal plants. He stressed that ensuring quality at the source leads to better and faster health outcomes.
Highlighting the government’s efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister said steps are being taken to integrate Ayush systems into the national healthcare framework, with a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and building a sustainable health system. He underlined the role of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), which has been implementing the central sector scheme on the conservation, development and sustainable management of medicinal plants for the past 25 years.
According to the minister, between 2020–21 and 2024–25, projects worth about ₹1,161.96 lakh were approved for farmer training and awareness through 139 initiatives, supported by seven Regional-cum-Facilitation Centres across the country. He also pointed to the “e-Charak” digital platform, which has helped strengthen market linkages by directly connecting farmers with buyers.
Jadhav said medicinal plant cultivation not only supports farmer empowerment and the Ayush value chain but also contributes to biodiversity conservation. He also referred to the global momentum around millets, or Shri Anna, following the UN’s declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, which helped boost cultivation and farmer incomes.
Emphasising the role of Krishi Vidyapeeths and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), the minister suggested that these institutions be actively engaged in raising awareness and promoting medicinal plant cultivation to enhance livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
He thanked the members of the committee for their constructive inputs, saying their suggestions would help strengthen the Ayush ecosystem and advance India’s leadership in traditional medicine at the global level.
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade, Ashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao and Nilesh D Lanke.
