The State Government has constituted a district-level ‘Co-ordination and Evaluation Committee’ to purchase 'Harra' under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in all 27 districts.
The Collector will be the president of the Committee. The local MPs and MlAs would benominated as members of the Committee, officials stated. The district panchayat officials, Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department officials , Manager of district lead bank, a member of Non-governmental organisation (NGO) connected with Tribal development can be nominated by the Collector, it was stated.
The order was issued to constitute committees by the Forest Department. The Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation officials said Chief Minister Raman Singh has enhanced the procurement price of ‘Harra’ by Rs350 per quintal for forest-dwellers and rural families. The Central Government, while keeping in view of the medicinal properties of ‘Harra’ has increased the MSP for procurement to Rs11 per kg or Rs1,100 per quintal .
Earlier, the MSP was Rs7.50 per kg or Rs750 per quintal. About 900 primary forest produce co-operative committees will procure ‘Harra’. The Chief Minister has asked officials that ‘Harra’ should not be procured at less than the support price. The Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation officials said that procurement will commence from Diwali and will continue till February next year.