Himachal Pradesh-Army- Industry MoU to Promote Medicinal Plant Cultivation in Border Areas
SDG 1: No Poverty | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 15: Life on Land
Government of Himachal Pradesh | Indian Army
Himachal Pradesh has signed a tripartite MoU with the Indian Army and Shree Baidyanath Ayurved to promote large-scale cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in selected border and remote villages of the state. The initiative, launched in the presence of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, aims to combine livelihood generation, traditional knowledge revival, and strategic engagement in border regions .
Key highlights
Integrated livelihood model: The MoU establishes a coordinated framework where the Ayush Department will provide technical know-how and farmer training, the private partner will ensure assured procurement at fixed prices along with quality seeds and saplings, and the Indian Army will support training and technical sessions for cultivators.
Focus on the border and remote villages: By targeting border areas, the initiative links economic inclusion with strategic geography, offering sustainable income opportunities to villagers in hard-to-reach regions while strengthening community resilience.
Revival of traditional medicine value chains: The programme seeks to revive and strengthen Ayurvedic and medicinal plant value chains, positioning Himachal Pradesh as a source region for high-quality medicinal raw materials while supporting indigenous knowledge systems.
The MoU represents a shift from short-term welfare support to market-linked rural development, reducing price risk for farmers through assured procurement and embedding skill development at the local level. By integrating state capacity, private sector demand, and the Armyβs outreach in border areas, the initiative creates a scalable model for livelihood security, bio-resource management, and regional stability.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can the Himachal Pradesh model be adapted to other remote regions in India while ensuring ecological sustainability, and equitable benefit-sharing for local communities?
Follow the full news here: MoU signed to promote medicinal plants cultivation in border areas of the State