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Micro enterprise development using forest produce as raw
material, in the forest fringe villages seem to be the most
suitable option for the enhancement of livelihoods of the forest
dwelling poor tribal and other communities. Because, in India,
around 200 million people living in the remotest parts of the
country survive on the subsistence agriculture and forest
gathering. They earn cash income by selling NTFPs (with out any
processing) on a daily/weekly basis in the nearest market places
either to the State owned corporations or to the traders. In the
recent years, it has been noted that the growth of export of
NTFP based products is between 5-15% annually, with an average
at 11% while the primary producers continue to remain poor.
Currently the enterprises based on forest produce are located
distantly and owned by private entrepreneurs. Thus, the profits
generated from out of value addition to the forest produce are
not reaching the communities. Even the State owned corporations
limit their transactions to procure the produce from the primary
collectors and arrange for forward sale of the same through
auctions. Naturally, the owners of medium or large enterprises
participate in the bids and procure the produce in bulk
quantities. Neem, Mahua, Gum, tamarind, amla, to name a few and
a variety of medicinal plants are being traded in this way
across the country from the forested areas. In such a state of
affairs, the poor forest dependent/dwelling communities remain
poor eternally and spend their energies to collect the forest
produce to get those small returns and in the process contribute
to the generation of wealth for the remote players.
The National forest policy 1988, subsequent
JFM guidelines of 1990, 2002&2004 and the JFM resolutions
of almost all States, the PESA and the current Forest Rights
Act,2007 – all of the
legislations and directives of the National and State
Governments have been highlighting the need for making forest
dependent people partners in the development and management
of
forests. Still, the situation remains more or less the same.In
recent times, there is also an argument that Public Private
Partnerships have to be encouraged to improve the situation
and
attract investments for establishment of forest based
enterprises.
In the above background, it is imperative to look into the
practical issues before developing strategies. It is a matter of
great significance to find ways and means of retaining the bio
mass related to forest produce, nearer to the location from
where it is collected. Two simple examples can explain this
further. i) Neem seed – when neem seed collected is transported
to remote areas for processing, the native people/farmers are
deprived of the cake (by product of oil extraction) and other
waste material, which can effectively be used as organic
pesticide by the farmers in the vicinity which will reduce their
investment costs also. The other is – Mahua, when its seed is
sent out, local people are deprived of the benefits from the
cake which can be used as organic fertilizer and also
traditional mosquito repellent. The other practical point is
that given the levels of literacy and organization among the
primary collectors, expecting them to become full pledged
individual entrepreneurs dealing with the business of forest
produce (with or with out value addition) in the near future is
highly impossible.
In this situation, what seems to be practical is – promotion
of micro enterprise development at the village level by the
communities who collect the produce. Organizing them into groups
and providing them with required skills/tools/follow up
guidance/support services/linkages will work in the interest of
the poor and their income levels can be raised considerably. In
order to make this work, the concerned state agencies have to
establish appropriate structures /systems and institutional
arrangements. A set of related actions need to be taken and
coordinated by the Government to facilitate marketing of the
products developed through micro enterprises.
Value chains of each of the forest products that have some
commercial value need to be studied (and/or existing information
be compiled/collated) and the stages that can be handled at
community level through micro enterprises have to be identified.
More people can be involved in such activities at the village
level, providing gainful employment for a certain period.
This course of action necessitates the initiative by
concerned Government departments/Ministries to create a
structure that - looks into all aspects related to the promotion
and development of forest based micro enterprise including
interstate coordination and also, ensures sustainability and
involvement of local communities in the management of the
resources being used in the enterprises.
What are the issues of forest governance that require special
attention in this regard, what roles each of the stakeholder
groups can play to promote forest based micro enterprises, what
practical measures can be taken to make the next step in the
desired direction are the subjects for discussion in the
foregoing consultation by all stakeholders. |
