Maybe communities can be involved to cater to the local needs
How is the department of ISM promoting cultivation?
The Medicinal Plants Board (MPB) has been established recently to take care of all the different aspects of cultivation, but it is difficult to say at this moment what the policies are going to be.
What plants are being emphasised on for cultivation?
We are going to work on the list suggested by the Planning Commission. Tree varieties are difficult to cultivate as they have to be nurtured for around 25 years before they can be harvested. It is going to be difficult to provide incentives to the farmer to grow them. In case of endangered plants, the present scheme, that the user has to show a certificate of cultivation is working very well. What needs to be taken care of is whether more plants should be included or removed from the list.
Will the communities be involved in cultivation?
It is difficult to involve communities as their crops are not standardised and a lot of linkages have to be developed before they can participate in the process. Use of non-standard raw material lowers the quality of the drug. Maybe communities can be involved to cater to the local needs.
What are the incentives given to the farmer to go in for cultivation?
MPB will decide on the incentives, but I think we will have to have a buy back arrangement.
Why are the states not interested in the process of cultivation and protection of medicinal plants?
It is important to educate the state ministers because they do not know the value of ISM. MPC wants the states to also form a similar board. The Centre cannot do anything more than give guidelines. The states have to take initiative at their own level.