The NMPB also promote research & development, capacity building through trainings, raising awareness through promotional activities like creation of Home/School herbal gardens. To meet increasing demand for medicinal plants NMBP focusses on in-situ & ex-situ conservation and augmenting local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance. In recent years cultivation of medicinal plants has started gaining momentum, still a significant part of our requirements continue to be met from wild sources.

The primary mandate of NMPB is to develop an appropriate mechanism for coordination between various ministries/ departments/ organization and implementation of support policies/programs for overall (conservation, cultivation, trade and export) growth of medicinal plants sector both at the Central /State and International level. Currently the board is working under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy), Government of India. In order to promote medicinal plants sector, Government of India set up National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) on 24th November 2000. The foothills of Western Ghats extending throughout the eastern border of Kerala are enriched with wide variety of rare valuable medicinal plants. The global clamor for more herbal ingredients creates possibilities for the local cultivation of medicinal plants and aromatic crops as well as for the regulated and sustainable harvest of wild plants.Such endeavors could help to raise rural employment in the developing countries, boost commerce and also contribute to the health of the people. Kerala is sitting on a gold mine of well recorded and well-practiced knowledge of traditional herbal medicines. Recent analysis shows that out of the estimated 5100 flowering plants in Kerala, more than 1000 species possess medicinal values.Of these, approximately 450 species are widely used in AYUSH industries on a commercial basis. Medicinal Plants constitute an important component of the plant resource spectrum of Kerala. Ethno botanical surveys carried out in different areas of the State brought to light novel information on medicinal plant uses which can be sustainably utilized for the welfare of the people. The Western Ghats forests, backwater areas, marshes and swamps and the coastal region harbors a wide variety of plant genetic resources of which the medicinal plants constitute an important group. The Kerala State is a rich repository of plant diversity due to her peculiar phytogeography. SMPB is implementing various prestigious projects in the State namely School Herbal Gardens, Home Herbal Gardens, Institutional Herbal Gardens, Ex-situ& In-situ conservation of medicinal plants, Conservation of Sacred Grooves with medicinal plants, programs for creation of awareness among the students and public, Grahachaithanyam project (one Neem and one curry leaf in each households),Grameenam for health and wealth (cultivation of medicinal plants cum ex-situ conservation), Production of quality medicinal plants etc.

By utilizing the funds from both Central and State Govt. and National Medicinal Plants Board, Govt. SMPB is functioning with the financial assistance State Govt. The headquarters of the SMPB is located at Thrissur and the regional office is situated at Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram. The Board consists of official and non-official representatives from various departments and institutions. The aim of the SMPB is to co-ordinate matters relating to the Cultivation, Conservation, Research & Development and Promotion of medicinal plants sector in the State.SMPB has been functioning in Kerala for the past 18 years.HonвЂ™ble Minister for Health and Social Welfare is the Chairperson and Secretary,AYUSH Dept. From 2015 onwards the State Medicinal Plants Board is coming under the administrative jurisdiction of AYUSH Department. in Kerala was constituted during the year 2015. The State Medicinal Plants Board, Kerala (SMPB) was constituted under the administrative jurisdiction of Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt.of Kerala in 2002, as per the direction of the Dept.

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