It is widely accepted that medicinal plants are critical and
strategic because medicines are key to maintaining a healthy population that
drives and sustains the economy. However, the immense value addition that
medicinal plants can bring about to the farm sector, even to small and marginal
farmers, is often overlooked, Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH,
said.
He was addressing an e-event organised by the National
Medicinal Plant Board (NPBM) to celebrate two decades of existence.
“…NPMB has been working relentlessly for growth and development
of the medicinal plant sector in the country. The Central Sector Scheme for Conservation,
Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants are some of the schemes
promoted by the board,” Naik noted.
A “Status Report of NMPB 2020” and “Ayur-veg” e-book were released
on the occasion. The AYUSH Minister, Secretary (AYUSH) Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha
and other members of the Board complemented NMPB for its progress, achievements
and contribution made for growth and development of medicinal plants sector in
the country.
In recent years cultivation of medicinal plants has started
gaining momentum. However, still a significant part of our requirements
continue to be met from wild sources. To meet increasing demand for medicinal
plants, the NMPB focuses on in-situ & ex-situ conservation and augmenting
local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance. The NMPB
promotes research & development, capacity building through training,
raising awareness through promotional activities like creation of Home/School
herbal gardens.
NMPB’s main objective is the development of medicinal plants
sector through developing a strong coordination between the stakeholders i.e.,
farmers, traders, and manufacturers benefiting each of them. The endeavor would
increase the income and livelihood of the farmers and tribes. It would
facilitate backward integration with the industry/ manufacturers through
post-harvest management. Introduction of new IT tools and market linking
activities further help the farmers as well as the industry.
It was on 24th November 2000 that the then Department of
AYUSH joined hands with the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Biotechnology and Department
of Agricultural Research and Education to form the National Medicinal Plants
Board (NMPB). The Board, today, is an integral unit of the Ministry of AYUSH
with the aforesaid Ministries and Departments offering consultations and
support, and it exercises oversight on medicinal plants sector.
The voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plants
Production (VCSMPP) has been an important achievement of NMPB. The scheme,
designed with the support of the Quality Council of India, encourages good
practices among farmers in the matter of cultivation, field collection and
maintaining quality of the medicinal plants products. This certification is, in
many ways, a form of quality assurance, and it has resulted in easy marketing
and export of medicinal plants products.
