Raipur: The meeting of the Forest Produce State Trade Inter-Departmental Committee chaired by Hon’ble Kedar Kashyap, Minister, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department was concluded at his residence office in Nava Raipur. Tendu leaves, which are also called the green gold of Chhattisgarh, from whose collection the forest dwellers living in remote forest areas get a good income. It has been agreed to give an additional time of 15 days in the period of depositing the security amount by the private buyer for the collection of tendu leaves. It has been agreed to return 100% of the security deposit deposited by the buyer on storage of tendu leaves in private warehouse. This year, the process of delivery of green leaves to the buyer will be monitored through online software. This will bring transparency and speed in the process. From last year, tendu leaves are being purchased from the collectors at the rate of Rs 5500/- per standard sack. Due to which the income of the collectors has increased considerably. Managing Director, Forest Development Corporation made a live presentation of 5 species of bamboo found on farmers’ land in Surguja, Jashpur, Surajpur, Bankuthpur districts. Ropa, Chaai, Jhingi, Katang and Pahadi bamboo are found there. Bamboo can be used for multipurposes according to its different structural strength and weight based quality. At present, bamboo is being used extensively in paper factories, furniture, decorative items, tents, centering as well as by tomato and vegetable producers. According to the preliminary survey, bamboo/wood worth about Rs 500 crore is available in farmers’ land outside the forest area. Vegetable producing farmers alone are using bamboo worth Rs 10 crore per year.
At present, bamboo is rapidly becoming popular as an alternative to iron, aluminum and wood. Bamboo is being used as crash barrier by National Highway Authority. It is also very useful in fencing of railway lines. The Honorable Forest Minister directed to conduct a market survey of bamboo and submit a report. He also directed that maximum minor forest produce should be collected at the support price to strengthen the economic condition of the families residing in the forest areas of the state. V. Srinivas Rao, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force, Anil Sahu, Managing Director, State Minor Forest Produce Federation, B. Anand Babu, Managing Director, CG State Forest Development Corporation Limited, Smt. Sanjeeta Gupta, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Mayank Pandey, Deputy Secretary Forest were present in the meeting.
