Centre for speedy procurement of MSP for forest produce

By Special Correspondent Last updated May 4, 2020

NEW DELHI: After hiking the minimum support price (MSP) of a host of minor forest produce (MFP), the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, on Sunday, advised the states to speed up procurement operations to help the tribals as it is the peak season for gathering of MFP.
The states have initiated the process of procurement of MFP and operations have begun in 10 states.
Procurement of Rs 20.30 crore has already been undertaken in the FY 2020-21 till date.
The entire procurement operation for MFP will get a further push after announcement of revised MSP for 49 items of forest produce by the ministry on Thursday last. An online monitoring dashboard — the Van Dhan Monit Dashboard — has been created for reporting the activities undertaken at the state level for procurement of MFP.
This is part of the “TRIFED E-Sampark Setu” being created for an exchange of information to and from every panchayat and Van Dhan Kendra, either through mail or mobile. TRIFED proposes to link up with 10 lakh villages, district and state-level partners, agencies as well as SHGs.
The state implementing agencies have already started updating the dashboards as the work progresses in their states.
Further, states have appointed the Van Dhan Kendra as their primary procurement agents for MFP from haat bazaars (markets).
The Van Dhan Kendras have procured around 31.35 metric ton of MFPs with a value of Rs 1.11 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan programme.
Altogether 1126 Van Dhan Kendras have been sanctioned in 21 states and 1 Union Territory involving 3.6 lakh tribal beneficiaries putting them on path to enterprise.
The scheme of Van Dhan Kendras is operational in 22 states with significant tribal population in the country. It has the potential to benefit almost 1.1 crore tribal families.
The Scheme of “Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of tribal products” has a MSP component and a value addition component and aims to raise the incomes of tribal gatherers and promote enterprise among them.