The State Medicinal Plants Board, Kerala (SMPB) was constituted under the
administrative jurisdiction of Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Kerala in 2002, as per the direction of the Dept. of AYUSH, Govt. of India. The aim of the SMPB is to co-ordinate matters relating to the Cultivation, Conservation, Research & Development and Promotion of medicinal plants sector in the State. SMPB has been functioning in Kerala for the past 17 years. Hon’ble Minister for Health and Social Welfare is the Chairperson and Secretary, AYUSH Dept. is the Vice Chairperson of the Board. The Board consists of official and non-official
representatives from various departments and institutions. The headquarters of the SMPB is located at Thrissur and the regional office is situated at Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram.
SMPB is functioning with the financial assistance State Govt. and National Medicinal Plants Board, Govt. of India. By utilizing the funds from both Central and State Govt. SMPB is implementing various prestigious projects in the State namely School Herbal Gardens, Home Herbal Gardens, Institutional Herbal Gardens, Ex-situ & In-situ conservation of medicinal plants, Conservation of Sacred Grooves with medicinal plants, programs for creation of awareness among the students and public, Grahachaithanyam project (one Neem and one curry leaf in each
households), Grameenam for health and wealth (cultivation of medicinal plants cum ex-situ conservation), Production of quality medicinal plants etc.
