The Chhattisgarh government has decided for the first time to procure as many as 25 items of minor forest produce, up from just 7 in 2018, in a bid to help forest dwellers.
This follows a wish made by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
Forest Minister Mohammed Akbar said that till 2018, only seven Minor Forest Produces were being procured on support price in the state.
To provide greater employment to the forest dwellers, the number was increased to 23. This has now been further hiked to 25.
This will provide greater opportunities of employment to people living in Vananchal.
The new items added to the list are Giloy and Bhelwa.
Until now, 23 items were being purchased: Sal seed, Harra, Emli seed, Chironji kernels, Mahua seed, Kusumi lac, Rangini lac, Kaal Megh, Bahera, Nagarmotha, Kullu gum, Puvad, Bel pulp, honey, flower broom, Mahua Phool (dry), Jamun seed (dry), Kaunch seed, Dhawai flower (dry), Karanja seed, Bibding and Amla (including seed) and Phool emli (seedless).
The Minister said that besides the support price in the purchase of Kusumi lac, Rangini lac and Kullu gum, additional incentive amount is being given by the state government.
The revised purchase rates have been announced for procurement of these minor forest produce at minimum support price. The revised rates have come into effect from May 1, 2020.
Under this, the revised rate for Emli with seed has been increased from Rs 31 to Rs 36, for Mahua seeds from Rs 25 to Rs 29, for Kaal Megh from Rs 33 to Rs 35, for Nagarmotha from Rs 27 to Rs 30 and procurement rate of Bel pulp has gone up from Rs 27 to Rs 30 per kg .
Similarly, rate for honey has been hiked from Rs 195 to Rs 225, for flower broom Rs 30 to Rs 50, for Mahua flower (dry) from Rs 17 to Rs 30, for berries seed (dry) from Rs 36 to Rs 42, for Kaunch seed from Rs 18 to Rs 21, for Dhawai flower (dry) from Rs 32 to Rs 37 and for Karanja seed from Rs 19 to Rs 22 per kg.
Apart from this, rate for Baaybadig has been increased from Rs 81 to Rs 94, for Amla (seedless) from Rs 45 to Rs 52, for Flower tamarind (seedless) from Rs 54 to Rs 63, for chironji kernels from Rs 109 to Rs 126 and for Puwar (Charauta seed) from Rs 14 to Rs 16 rupees per kg.
Giloy's rate has been hiked from Rs 21 to Rs 40 and Bhelwa's from Rs 8 to Rs 9 per kg. Kusumi lac's rate is now Rs 300 per kg fixed by the Chhattisgarh government. Similarly, Rangini lac rate has been increased from Rs 130 to Rs 200 per kg by central goverment; this has been hiked to Rs 220 by the Government of Chhattisgarh.
Apart from this, Kullu gum rate has gone up to Rs 125 per kg.