NEW DELHI: The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, organised a one-day Chintan Shivir on Medicinal Plants at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event convened senior officials, subject experts, industry leaders, and state representatives to deliberate on policy, research, and implementation strategies aimed at strengthening the medicinal plants sector through sustainable practices and innovation.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the Chintan Shivir as the Chief Guest. In his address, he remarked that medicinal plants are not merely the foundation of India’s traditional knowledge systems but also a vital component of its biological and economic heritage. He said that the growing global recognition of Ayurveda and other Ayush systems highlights India’s potential to become a global supplier of quality medicinal plants and plant-based wellness products.

The Minister observed that the theme of Chintan Shivir perfectly aligns with the Government’s focus on Viksit Bharat 2047 and the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by empowering rural communities through sustainable livelihoods. He emphasised that the medicinal plants sector provides unique opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, and researchers to collaborate for a healthy, self-reliant India. As part of the inaugural session, he released the Souvenir commemorating 25 glorious years of NMPB, the Terrace Garden Booklet, and launched a new variety of Anacyclus pyrethrum developed by CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. He also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NMPB and AIIA to strengthen collaborative research and innovation.

Jadhav highlighted that the government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has introduced several initiatives to promote the cultivation and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants. He stated that institutions such as NMPB have played a key role in supporting farmers to grow high-value medicinal crops, especially in rainfed and marginal lands. These efforts, he said, not only generate income but also contribute to ecological conservation and public health security.

He further appreciated the dedicated efforts of NMPB in strengthening backward and forward linkages, expanding market access, and ensuring quality and authenticity in the supply chain. The Minister urged all stakeholders to continue their collective work toward developing a globally competitive, environmentally sustainable, and economically vibrant medicinal plants sector that serves both the nation’s farmers and the health needs of society.