Contributions of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush in the medicinal plants sector - An appraisal

Abstract

The Government of India set up the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) to promote the medicinal plants sector on November 24, 2000, under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare. The board is a nonstatuary coordinating body and is now a section of the Ministry of Ayush (MoA). The primary mandate of NMPB is to develop an appropriate mechanism for coordination between various ministries/departments/organizations and implementation of support policies/programs for overall (conservation, cultivation, trade, and export) growth of the medicinal plants sector both at the central/state and international level. NMPB, under its Central Sector Scheme (CSS) on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants,” provides project-based financial support to explore various aspects of medicinal plants. Different scheme components of NMPB are functioning, such as Conservation, Research and Development (R&D), Information, Education, and Communication and Training, Herbal Gardens, Marketing and Trade, and International Cooperation. NMPB implements various programs/policies through its 37 State Medicinal Plants Boards at different state/UT levels, 6 Regional Cum Facilitation Centers at the region level, and also through various State Forest Departments/Horticulture Departments/Agriculture Departments. NMPB is also assisted by the Project Screening Committees, Project Approval Committee, and other Committees constituted as per the requirement of the CSS guideline. The present article deals with the overall contribution of NMPB to the medicinal plant sectors since its inception. The article places interest in outcomes that would gradually help the country meet its international obligation in various aspects of medicinal plants/sectors.