The “National AYUSH Mission” (NAM) is one government initiative that seeks to encourage the production of medicinal and aromatic plants in India’s North-East. The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy), Government of India, is responsible for carrying out the National AYUSH Mission.
The National AYUSH Mission’s medicinal plants component’s primary goals and initiatives typically consist of:
Cultivation and Conservation: Through funding for seed distribution, cultivation methods, land preparation, and other relevant interventions, the program encourages the production of medicinal and aromatic plants. The creation of nurseries, botanical gardens, and institutions for the conservation of genetic material also emphasizes the preservation of medicinal plant species that are in danger of extinction.
Processing and Value Addition: The strategy places a strong emphasis on the processing and value addition of medicinal and aromatic plants. It encourages the construction of processing units, drying and distillation facilities, laboratories for quality inspection, and other post-harvest processing and value-adding infrastructure. This raises the value and marketability of regional medicinal plant products.
Building Capacity and Training Programs: The strategy includes training and building capacity initiatives for farmers, business owners, and other parties involved in the production, processing, and selling of aromatic and medicinal plants. It offers instruction in ethical farming practices, environmentally friendly harvesting techniques, post-harvest management, value-adding approaches, and marketing tactics.
Market Promotion and Linkages: The plan makes it easier for medicinal and aromatic plant to receive market promotion and linkages. It backs activities to open up new markets, gather market intelligence, build marketing networks, and encourage product certification and branding. This makes it easier to access markets and ensures that medicinal plant products are priced fairly.
