The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) set-up in November 2000 by the Government of India has the primary mandate of coordinating all matters relating to medicinal plants and support policies and programmes for growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation. The Board is located in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy (AYUSH) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The objectives of establishing a Board is to establish an agency which would be responsible for coordination of all matters relating to medicinal plants, including drawing up policies and strategies for conservation, proper harvesting, cost-effective cultivation, research and development, processing, marketing of raw material in order to protect, sustain and develop this sector. The work would continue to be carried out by the respective Departments, Organisations but the Board would provide a focus and a direction to the activities. The Board is functioning with administrative/technical support of the following committees which have been carved out of the key Departments and have the administrative/technical capability for each area defined below. These committees are:
- Standing Finance Committee,
- Committee on Demand and Supply,
- Committee on Cultivation of Medicinal Plants including Conservation of rare and endangered species.
- Committee on Export/Import,
- Committee on Research,
- Committee on Patents/IPR
Aim
To meet increasing demand for medicinal plants, the NMPB focusses on in-situ & ex-situ conservation and augmenting local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance.
Objectives
The NMPB also promote research & development, capacity building through trainings, raising awareness through promotional activities like creation of Home/School herbal gardens.