The Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has emphasized the expansion & popularization of Indian system of Medicine (AYUSH).Medicinal plants hold the key to development of Ayurveda & other branches of Indian System of Medicine & for this reason the Government has given high priority to development of medicinal plants. The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) was set up under a Govt. resolution notified on 24th Nov'2000,under the Chairmanship of Union Health & Family Welfare. Similarly, actions have been advocated to set up State Medicinal Plants Boards with the representatives drawn from all concerned departments/organizations like Health & Family Welfare, Environment & forest, Agriculture, Horticulture, Science etc.

The National Medicinal Plants Board is taking initiative to set up state Medicinal Plants Boards and so far 35 such boards have been set up in the country.The State Medicinal Plants Board, Assam was set up in the year 2003, with the objectives of streamlining the medicinal plants sector, achieving high quality commercial productions, value added products, drawing up of policies, strategies for conservation, proper harvesting, cost effective cultivation, processing and marketing of raw materials, research and development through financial assistance.