NMPB signs MoU with NBRI for cultivation and production of medicinal plants in India
Mumbai, June 16, 2021:
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Union Ministry of Ayush, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI)for extending joint collaborative efforts to boost the cultivation and production of medicinal plants and herbs in India.
“The MoU will facilitate development of Quality Planting Material (QPM) of medicinal plants and herbs identified by NMPB, help in establishment of their nurseries for QPM, development, promotion, conservation and cultivation of the appropriate medicinal plants in different agro-climatic zones, including the threatened medicinal plant species and plants for the high-altitude regions”, said the statement issued by the Ayush ministry.
Through this collaboration NMPB will support CSIR-NBRI in carrying out the potential medicinal plant species with high commercial value for the Germplasm collection/conservation and establishment of nursery and seed banks/gene banks, it further stated.
NBRI while undertaking the survey of medicinal plants will work in coherence with NMPB in the desired direction. The outreaches of NMPB and its implementing agencies like State Medicinal Plants Boards (SMPB’s), Regional-cum-facilitation Centers will work together under the ambit of this MoU.
Working under the Union Ministry of Ayush, NMPB is mandated to coordinate all matters relating to medicinal plants and support policies and programmes for growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants.
The conservation of plant genetic resources is an integral part of bio-diversity conservation. The plantation activities can be gainfully utilized for supporting quality raw materials for medicines.
Medicinal plants are regarded as rich resources of traditional medicines and are being used for thousands of years in the health care system. India has a rich diversity of medicinal plant resources. The natural resources are gradually getting depleted due to various developmental activities in its habitat. There is a need to conserve these resources and make sustainable utilisation of them. Pharmabiz