The Govt. of Maharashtra vide it’s Government Resolution No. FDM-2005/CR 55/F-2 dated 26-02-2010, approved creation of an independent medicinal plant conservation and development branch under FDCM. In accordance with the G.R., Board of Directors of the FDCM passed resolution for creation of an independent medicinal plant branch in its 152nd meeting dated 21-05-2010. The Managing Director, FDCM vide’s his letter no. ADM/Estt/3453/885, dated 31-05-2010 issued order for establishment of` an independent medicinal plant branch under FDCM Ltd, since 01st June 2010.

As per the Government Resolution of dated 26th February 2010, the objectives of the medicinal plants branch are given, as under:

1. To survey, conserve in-situ and establish authentic data base of medicinal, aromatic and edible plants of forest origin.

2. To increase green cover in the non-forest areas by undertaking cultivation of above plant species on contractual basis and facilitate marketing of their produce.

3. To make available the naturally available edible produce and other useful Ayurvedic Medicines as well as non-timber forest produce, at affordable rates to the people of the state.

4. To standardize plantation modules for organic cultivation of alternate crops on waste land in the state.

5. To set up facilities for certification and quality control for plant produce and to encourage Indian Systems of Ayurvedic Medicines through distribution of pure produce in the state, country and abroad.

6. To increase productivity of forest areas.

The said G.R. also prescribes outline for works to be undertaken by the Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Branch, so constituted, in the FDCM. The proposed works / schemes include, the following.

1. In-Situ conservation of rare plants in the selected conservation areas.

2. Education and training programmes for the collectors of these plants from forest areas especially for species whose roots and bark used.

3. Setting up of Botanical gardens, Medicinal plants gardens, Nakshtra van and Dashmul plantation, setting up of homestead medicinal plants gardens in the urban areas for the domestic use of medicinal and aromatic plants.

4. To encourage cultivation of medicinal, aromatic, edible and natural colour yielding plants.

5. Large scale collection of these plants from forests, through Joint Forest Management (JFM) committees.

6. Setting up of modern nurseries for raising pollution control plants and their sale to the local public.

7. Sale and export of these forest produce, after proper treatment and value addition, and to obtain necessary permission form National Bio-diversity Authority before exporting the medicinal plants.

8. Setting up Processing plants and Laboratories for processing of medicinal plants; setting up training centers, retail outlets, factory and a State of the art laboratory.

In view of the above mandate, activities like creation of herbal gardens, establishment of medicinal plants nurseries, ex-situ plantation of medicinal plants, in-situ conservation of medicinal plants, training of staff, etc. have been undertaken from the funds received under schemes, including Compensatory Afforestation Management Plan Authority (CAMPA), 13th Finance Commission, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) New Delhi, Maharashtra State Horticulture and Medicinal Plants Board (MSH&MPB), Pune as well as from FDCM. Ltd’s own resources.

Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development branch constituted in the FDCM Ltd. has present status as under.

Since the setting up of medicinal plant conservation & development branch in the FDCM Ltd., a number of activities have been initiated and are still ongoing. Efforts have been made to procure funds from the various sources for the works including in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation and plantation, developing herbal gardens & setting up of nurseries for the medicinal plants for plantation.

As per Foundation of Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Banglore database 960 species of medicinal plants are traded out, of which 178 are traded in high volumes. These species by their major source of supply reveals that 21 species are obtained from temperate forests and 70 species are from tropical forests. As many as 48 species out of 70 species are found in the forests of Maharashtra. In 2001 the FRLHT prepared a list of 35 medicinal plant species of conservation concern and are as far as possible used for raising medicinal plant in nurseries and in in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation and plantation by Medicinal Plant Branch in FDCM Ltd.

The following are the activities carried out in past and in present status.

1. About 4.00 lac of medicinal plant seedlings were raised in 2009-10 & 2010-11 under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project funded by Govt. of India (GOI) for the distribution through State Govt. Deptts. like Forest, Social Forestry and Agriculture.

2. The medicinal plants species such as Gulvel, Kalmegh and Sarpagandha plantations are raised in Nashik Region during 2009, 2010 and 2012 rains over an area of 125.600 ha. through Centre Sector Schemes of NMPB, New Delhi.

3. The Herbal Gardens over an area of 13.00 ha. in total at Nagpur, Nashik and Dahanu are taken in 2011 rains through the schemes as mentioned above.

4. The Maharashtra State Horticulture and Medicinal Plantation Board, a state level board is also an agency for co-ordination of all matters related to medicinal plants under NMPB. In 2013-14 the twelve projects were submitted and sanctioned by MSH&MPB which includes nurseries, drying sheds and storage godowns for medicinal plants after collection of it. Similarly to develop awareness amongst the public and to promote marketing of medicinal plants, FDCM Ltd. has organized Buyer-Seller Meet, Workshops, Trainings and participated in National Fair cum Exhibition held at Nagpur during Financial year 2013-14 from 9th Feb.-2014 to 13th Feb.-2014. Also participated as a co-organizer in “Second International Congress of Society for Ethno Pharmacology” at Nagpur, which was organized by Department of Pharmaceutical science of RTM Nagpur University.

5. The Medicinal Plant Branch of FDCM Ltd. has carried out ex-situ plantation activities over an area of 748.100 ha. and planted 82,62,656 seedlings of medicinal plants species during 2009 to 2015 rains under granted funds from NMPB, 13th Finance commission and FDCM Ltd. internal funds.

6. As prescribed in Maharashtra State Govt. Resolution Dt. 26/02/2010 the objectives of Medicinal Plants Branch of FDCM Ltd. are set up and the activities that are outlined to undertake includes conservation of medicinal plants in-situ and setting up Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs). Accordingly an area of 3309.000 ha. was surveyed for rare medicinal plants and to establish authentic data base of Medicinal, Aromatic and Edible plants of Forest origin under grant in-aid from National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi.

7. To sensitize the public at large about the usage of medicinal plants based on indigenous knowledge Institutional/Public Herbal Gardens over an area of 24.000 ha. are established in FDCM nursery areas at Nashik, Thane, Nagpur and Chandrapur districts. The 40,853 seedlings of Medicinal, Aromatic Plants having medicinal value are planted.

8. In addition during the year 2013-14 twelve projects and in 2014-15 nineteen projects consisting of Model Nurseries, Small Nurseries, Drying sheds, Storage godowns have been submitted for sanction to Maharashtra State Horticulture and Medicinal Plant Board, Pune. But the sanctions were delayed resulting to shifting of projects to next financial years respectively. During the period 2 Model Nurseries, 7 small Nurseries were raised and 10 Drying Sheds, 10 Storage Godowns were constructed.

9. As mentioned above various promotional activities such as Training, Workshops, Buyer-seller meet as well as active participation in various exhibitions under various scheme like NMPB, MSH&MPB, 13th Finance Commission and FDCM’s internal resources are organized during 2010-11 to 2015-16 as under.

i. Training programs – 16

ii. Workshops – 12

iii. Buyer-Seller Meets – 1

iv. Krushi-Vasant Exhibition, Nagpur – 1

v. Second International Congress of Society for Ethno Pharmacology, Nagpur – 1

vi. Other Exhibitions – 1

The staff of each Division concerned participated in training & workshops held and resource persons, local Vaidus, dwellers, farmers, traders and staffs have shown overwhelming response in Buyers-Sellers Meet and Exhibitions.

10. Recently the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB), New Delhi has given approval for the projects costing Rs. 150.00 lacs for 3 years under In-Situ/Ex-Situ conservation, Resource Augmentation, Survey and Inventorization activities which consists of the works such as.

i. Construction of warehouse - 5 nos.

ii. Drying Sheds – 5 nos.

iii. Solar dryer 10 Ton capacity – 5 nos.

iv. Processing unit – 1 nos.

v. Packing shade & machinery

vi. Processing machinery and unit – 2 nos.

vii. Finish material store room.

viii. Quality testing lab

ix. Marketing support

x. Training for staff and workshop.

The local women self-help groups are supposed to be involved in the activities mentioned above. The local ten women self-help groups from Junona, Mamla and Chichpalli Ranges of West Chanda Forest Project Division, Chandrapur are involved in these activities.