News: Ayush Minister inaugurated the Chintan Shivir on the completion of 25 years of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) in New Delhi.
About National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)
- It is an apex body to coordinate with all matters relating to Medicinal Plants and Support Policies and Programs for growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation.
- Established on: 24th November 2000.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy)
- Chairperson: Union Minister for AYUSH
- Mandate: To develop an appropriate mechanism for coordination between various ministries/ departments/ organization and implementation of support policies for overall growth of medicinal plants sector at the Central, State and International level.
- Objectives of the Board:
- To promote the cultivation of medicinal plants
- It focuses on meeting the increasing demand for medicinal plants through in-situ and ex-situ conservation and by augmenting locally available medicinal and aromatic species of medical importance.
- To promotes research and development in the medicinal plants sector and undertakes capacity-building initiatives through training programmes.
- It spreads awareness through promotional activities such as establishing home and school herbal gardens.
- The Board supports quality assurance and standardization by developing Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACPs).
- It works towards establishing credible institutional mechanisms for certification of the quality of raw drugs, seeds, and planting materials.
