The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has initiated a project to compile the database of growers, farmers associations, traders, manufacturers and exporters of medicinal plants, extracts, phyto-chemicals and Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) products nationwide.

The project is aimed to facilitate adequate database for smooth transaction of quality raw materials from farmers to the industry along with helping the raw material dealers to identify potential buyers from the industry. This is the first effort from the NMPB, working under the Department of Ayush, to compile the database though many such initiatives are carried out by private firms.

"We will arrange maximum availability of the directory to the concerned firms and individuals to meet the purpose of the database successful. This is an effort to support the medicinal plant manufacturers, traders and the manufacturers in their day-to-day operations," said B S Sajwan, chief executive officer, NMPB.

Besides publishing the directory in hard as well as soft copies, it is proposed to place the names of such growers, farmers, growers associations, Self Help Groups (SHGs), traders, manufacturers and exporters on the NMPB for information of all concerned.
Considering the high visibility of the NMPB's website, it is expected that the directory of stakeholders across the board on the website will benefit the farmers, traders and manufacturers. The directory, which will be built with the information from currently available local directories and from information collected through NMPB sources and state medicinal plant boards, is expected to be out in public within six months, he added.

The Board has requested the stakeholders to furnish adequate contact information including the website address and email identity along with nature of activities of the particular firm and the medicinal plants and products the firm or farmer working on.