MoU signed for the conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants genetic resources

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources (MAPGRs) has been signed between 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 on 6th July, 2020.

Both NMPB and ICAR-NBPGR are committed to conserving the germplasm on long-term basis and the germplasm would be stored at designated space of ICAR-NBPGR in storage modules in the National Gene bank and or at the regional stations.

This would help the working group of NMPB acquire hands-on training on plant germplasm conservation techniques. NMPB and the ICAR-NBPGR on behalf of the ICAR would develop plans for seed storage of MAPGRs and submit periodic progress report to their respective organizations.

The purpose of conservation of plant genetic resources is to protect and use natural resources in ways that do not adversely affect the variety of genes and species or destroy important habitats and ecosystems.