Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has told District Collectors and the Forest Department to create a strong branding and distribution network of the products being produced through processing of forest produce, horticulture and agricultural crops.
Baghel said that a strong system of marketing should be developed for these products at both the state and national levels to launch them as a brand, an official communication said on Saturday.
The Chief Minister has issued guidelines saying the processing of minor forest produce, horticulture and agricultural crops is being done in different districts.
He found during a tour of these districts that although the production and processing of various items is being done at the district-level, due to the lack of branding and distribution network, the villagers are not getting the proper benefits.
To ensure that the tribal people and villagers derive maximum benefit from the collection and processing of raw materials, Sanjeevani shops of Minor Forest Produce Association should be utilized for branding and distributing these products, he said.
The Chief Minister also said that if the "production centres" in districts are converted into "Van Dhan Kendra", the Central government will provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 15 lakhs per centre.
