Chhattisgarh tribal pockets to get Rs 750 cr

State government initiates process to buy forest produce

The decision of Chhattisgarh government to procure non-nationalised minor forest produce is likely to flow Rs 750 crore in the tribal pockets of the state.

After starting his third inning as the Chief Minister, Raman Singh announced to procure Imli, Mahua, lac and other non-nationalised minor forest produce (MFP). The state government had started the process and issued notification to purchase forest produce directly from the people.

Chhattisgarh having 44 percent geographical area under forest is very rich in biodiversity because of favourable agro-climatic conditions like good rainfall and comparatively less biotic interference. The forest ecosystems are very rich in these Non wood forest products.

The state-run Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trading & Development ) Co-Operative Federation Ltd. Raipur is the organization created with an objective to promote trade and development of minor forest produce in the interest of MFP collectors, mostly tribals.

Currently, trade in nationalized MFP is organized and controlled by the Federation. The unorganized trade of non-nationalized MFP/Medicinal plants has led to low collection prices to the collectors and unsustainable harvesting of MFP form forest areas.

“As the collectors were getting low price, the government will now directly purchase MFP,” Singh had said after assuming the office. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also included it in its election manifesto.

The trade volume of the non wood forest produce in Chhattisgarh is calculated to be of Rs 1500 crore. According to federation officials, the estimated trade of non-nationalised MFP in Chhattisgarh is Rs 750 crore. The officials said the non-nationalised MFP would be nationalised to ensure that non government agencies could not trade.

The decision of the state government had political significance also keeping in view the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The BJP had performed poor in the tribal dominated belt of Bastar and Sarguja. This could be one of the reasons why the BJP-led government decided the start the process soon after coming to power.

The state government’s  decision would benefit 1.4 million tribal in Chhattisgarh.