New Delhi, Jul 7 (UNI) National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) under Ministry of AYUSH and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) under Department of Agricultural Research and Education have inked an MoU to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources (MAPGRs) at designated space of ICAR-NBPGR in long-term storage module in the National Gene bank and or at Regional Station for medium term storage module and acquire hands-on training on plant germplasm conservation techniques to the working group of NMPB.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed Monday, the authorised institute NMPB and the ICAR-NBPGR on behalf of the ICAR would develop detailed modalities for seed storage of MAPGRs and submit periodic progress report to their respective organisations, an official release here
said.
Both NMPB and ICAR-NBPGR are committed to conservation of germplasm on long-term basis, safely and cost-effectively for present and future generations to ensure the social and economic security.
Medicinal plants are regarded as rich resources of traditional medicines and are being used for thousands of years in the Indian health care system. Though richly-endowed in diversity of medicinal plants resources, India's natural resources are gradually depleting due to developmental activities in its habitat. There is a need to conserve these natural resources and for their sustainable utilisation.
The conservation of plant genetic resources is an integral part of biodiversity conservation. The purpose of conservation is to make sustainable development by protecting and using natural resources in ways that do not diminish the variety of genes and species or destroy important habitats and ecosystems.
UNI SD ADG 1558