Jammu and Kashmir State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) was established in January, 2001 under the Chairmanship of the Hon'ble Minister for Health & Medical Education as an independent entity in its working to coordinate , monitor and give directions in accordance with the programs and policies of National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) Department of ISM (AYUSH), Govt. of India related to development and sustainable use of medicinal plants in Jammu and Kashmir State.

Medicinal Plants form the major resource base of our indigenous health care traditions. Presently 8000 small and large scale AYUSH Drugs Manufacturing Industries are established all-over the Country. The Cultivation of medicinal plants, therefore, is key to meet the raw material needs of the AYUSH drug industry besides offering opportunities.  for higher levels of income, crop diversification and growth of exports. Further increasing concerns of unsustainable collection from the wild, disappearance of certain high demand species on one hand and concerns of quality and standaridisation on the other make it imperative to promote cultivation of species critical to AYUSH systems of medicines through appropriate financial incentives, policy, infrastructural and marketing support in a synergistic manner.