Team News Riveting
Raipur, May 5
Chhattisgarh’s tamarind procurement had recorded a whopping jump, almost three times as compared to the last collection year.
According to state government spokesperson, 67,552 quintal tamarinds were purchased from the collectors by the women self-help groups (WSHGs) in the state in the year 2020 that were valued at Rs 20.99 crore. “In the collection year 2021, 1,92,582 quintal tamarinds worth Rs 71.36 crore have been procured by the WSHGs,” the spokesperson said.
The collectors, mostly tribes from the Bastar region, have earned an additional income of Rs 50.37 crore in the current collection year as compared to previous year. The annual trade of non-specified MFP in the state is estimated to be Rs 12 billion (Rs 1,200 crore). Most of the MFPs are produced in the tribal areas, especially Bastar, which is infamous for deadly violence.
The Chhattisgarh State minor Forest Produce Federation is procuring tamarind under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme through women self-help groups. The state government had enhanced the MSP from Rs 31 per kg to Rs 36 per kg in the current collection year. Similarly, the rate for flower tamarind was increased from Rs 63 per kg to Rs 69 per kg.
With the increase in the minimum support price, minor forest producers got a fair price for their forest produce. Processing of the tamarind purchased from the collectors is done by self-help groups and other beneficiaries working in the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra.
The record collection and processing of taramind added significance as the business could be carried out amidst COVID-19 induced lockdown. The state produces about 5 lakh quintals of tamarind per year. Tamarind is grown mainly in Bastar region. Bastar’s tamarind is famous across the world and the local mandi transacted a business of over Rs 450 million (Rs 45 crore) in the last financial year.
