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The government launched a scheme to support farmers in cultivating medicinal plants, enhancing income, and promoting sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices.
The central government of India has launched a new scheme aimed at promoting the farming of medicinal plants. According to the Revised Central Sector Scheme introduced by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), this initiative seeks to help farmers diversify their crops, increase their income, and meet the rising demand for medicinal plants both within and outside India.
This scheme offers subsidies of around 50-75% on some of the selected medicinal plants for cultivation, making it more affordable for the farmers to start growing them. The initiative encourages group farming, allowing the farmers to form clusters to share resources and enhance profit margins.
Farmers will benefit significantly from financial support that helps lower the costs of cultivating valued medicinal plants such as Aloe vera, Ashwagandha, Tulsi, and Neem.
Alongside financial support, farmers will also receive training under this scheme. They will learn the best practices for growing, harvesting, and managing medicinal plants. Training will cover modern techniques like organic farming and integrated pest management, which can boost productivity while maintaining soil health.
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This program encourages people to grow medicinal plants that are in high demand locally and internationally. The training provided also emphasizes eco-friendly farming practices, reducing the use of chemicals and promoting environmentally friendly methods in medicinal plant farming.
One of the main challenges farmers face is market access. This scheme addresses that issue by connecting the farmers with buyers and promoting value-added products. Farmers will also receive assistance with processing and packaging, enabling them to produce oils, powders, and other products that can be sold for higher prices than the typical produce. Local processing sites will also be established, and the farmers will receive help in processing their medicinal plants.
The scheme offers financial incentives and also allows for the farmers to experiment with new plant varieties through government-subsidized research. It opens up opportunities in the rapidly growing markets for Ayurveda and traditional medicine, which are in high demand worldwide. By cultivating medicinal plants, farmers can boost their income and contribute to the natural health sector.
Farmers interested in this opportunity can apply through their State Medicinal Plants Boards or directly on the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) website. The application process is straightforward, and guidance is available at every step, from proposal submission to fund release.
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The government's scheme to promote medicinal plant farming offers farmers a valuable opportunity to diversify crops, enhance income, and access training and resources. By participating, farmers can contribute to the growing demand for natural health products while benefiting from financial support and market connections.