NMPB and CSIR-NBRI sign MoU for promoting cultivation and production of medicinal plants

The National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 4^th June, 2021 to extend joint collaborative efforts for boosting the cultivation and production of medicinal plants and herbs in India, the Ministry of AYUSH has said.

In a statement, the ministry said, “The MoU will facilitate the development of Quality Planting Material (QPM) of medicinal plants and herbs identified by NMPB, help in the 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.”

It added, “Through this collaboration, NMPB will support CSIR-NBRI in carrying out the potential medicinal plant species with high commercial value for germplasm collection/conservation and establishment of nursery and seed banks/gene banks.”

It also stated that 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 (SMPBs) and regional-cum-facilitation centres will work together under the ambit of this MoU.