NTFP for Bastar Development- Basic info

DPM Narayanpur, CG-SRLM

Bastar region comprising of newly formed districts of Narayanpur, Sukma,

Dantewada & Bijapur is rich in forests but extremely poor also & tribal
community prevalent many of whom are illiterate or lack technical education &
skills. Many non-timber forest products such as Tendu leaf, Mahua flower, lac
resin, Kosa silk & gums, herbs, brooms, tuners etc. are gathered & sold to the
local middlemen cheaply. This comprises 15-20% of their annual income & is vital
as they earn it during summer- the lean period when other income opportunities
are lacking. Further, raw material is sold today, but incomes can quickly double if
value is added and corporate linkages established. This is better option than hi-
tech skills training like information technology or biotech that many tribal youth
give up after brief exposure to city life & industry jobs only to return to their
villages. Ideas & basic info to select & develop value chain of some promising
commodities are as below.

The items which are not selected for this purpose are either rare or low value or
with complex issues. These include Sal seed butter exported for chocolate
making in Europe, Mango & Sal seed oil used similarly, Mahua & Sal seed oil
based biodiesel & Starch/ arrowroot from Tikhur.

Number of families per district & their % to total families in the Narayanpur
district (@ 20,000 HH- households) neighboring districts are similar. Total Bastar
scope is 5-6 times the values below.

COMMODITY NO. OF % OF Quinta Income Quantit Value REMARK

HH HH l/ HH Rs./HH y scope
scope Rs.
ton/ Lakh
yr#
Tendu 14,000 70 1 5,000 10,000 10,000 Monopoly
Mahua 16,000 80 2 5,000 5,000 1,250
Tamarind 12,000 60 1 2,000 1,000 500
Amchur 1,000 5 0.5 300 1,000 500
Tikhur, 5,000 25 1 2,500 250 125
herbs
Honey 1,000 5 0.1 1,000 250 2,500
Lac 1,000 5 0.05 1,000 1,000 2,000
Tassar 1,000 5 0.01 500 100 5,000
Gum 600 3 0.01 250 50 100
# for whole district, based on literature (NABARD study, forest dept. publ.)

Some under-utilized commodities include Ambadi or Khatta bhaji in local

language. It is a golden fibre called Mesta globally & used in gunny bags,
curtain making, packing etc. extracted from the stem of the seasonal, tall herb.
The dry flower powder is sold as Sudan or Jamaica tea globally & also called
as Roselle. Its grown in backyard for own consumption & but can be widely
grown & sold. Amchur is also mostly consumed at home but can be sold in other
states or exported.
Comparison of NTFP items for promotion
Lac Tassar silk Apiary Herbs Food Ropes/
ASPECT products# Leaf plates
Income Rs./ 10,000 6,000 3,000 5,000 7,500 5,000
family/ year
Daily 100 60 20 50 75 20
income Rs.
Investment/ Rs. 1 lakh Rs. 0.5 Rs. 2 lakh Rs. 1 Rs. 2.5 Rs. 2 lakh
100 families lakh lakh* lakh** ***
Risk Heat stress Bird Bees mass - FSA Low
predators exit formalities income
MSP - - -
Market Local Local, Local Industry Cities Local,
Govt. Industry
Constraint Low agri- Technology Low profit
diversity developmen
t
Collective 1 2 3 4 5 6
Rank
# Mahua/Tamarind powder, Bhelwa/ Cashew/ Mahua fruit pulp toffee etc., FSA- food saftey
authority regulations *- pulverizer, **- vessels, weigh-scale, storage/ work shed, ***- Plate
making machine, sewing machines

The value chains of some of the NTFP commodities are as below-

COMMODITY CHIRONJI Tamarind ARROW- SATAVAR Roselle

$ ROOT tea

VILLAGE 120 20 70 125 230

TOWN 400 60# 150 150 ?

CITY 600 90 600 200 >

RETAILER 1,200 120 1,000 500 1,200

PRODUCT Nut (wild Pulp ball Starch Powder Powder

almond)
#- de-seeded, de-fibered. $- 4 kg Chironji provides 1 kg but, that town price of
Rs. 500/-.