Forest produce collectors will get good price: CM Chouhan

Mahua fixed at Rs 35 per kg and Tendu Leaves Rs 2500 per standard bag
Meeting of Small Forest Produce purchase system concludes under CM’s chairmanship 
 
Bhopal 15 April 2020: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that in this hour of Corona crisis, procurement of forest produce will provide relief to the forest dwellers. They will be provided good price for their forest produce. They will also get cash payment facility. This work will be started from 25th of April itself. Tendupatta plucking work will start from April 25 and Tendupatta collection from May 4. Chouhan was addressing a meeting related to forest produce collection in the state through video conferencing today. Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Secretary Public Relations P. Narhari and senior officials of Forest Department were present in the meeting.

Mahua will be purchased for Rs 35 per kg

The Chief Minister said that this time the government will buy mahua from collectors for Rs. 35 per kg. Last year this price was Rs. 30 per kg. Cash payment facility will also be provided to the collectors. It was told that about 75 thousand families in the state are engaged in Mahua collection work.

Go in groups for collection

Chief Secretary Bains told the officers of the Forest department that the forest dwellers should not face any kind of trouble in collecting mahua etc. They should be told not to go where there is a fear of wild animals. Also, they should go only in groups rather than going alone.
Link with Sambal Yojana
The Chief Minister directed that forest produce collectors and tendu leaf collectors should be registered under Sambal Yojana. These people work by risking their lives. Therefore, no one should be left out.
Complete all preparations before April 25
Chief Minister Chouhan directed that the Forest Department should ensure all preparations related to forest produce before April 25. The people should be informed about this by beating drums in every village.
Purchase of Tendu patta will start from May 4
It was told in the meeting that Tendu patta is green now, it can be plucked after April 25. After this, the work of collecting tendu patta will be started in the state from May 4. This time the government has set a target of collecting 19 to 20 lakh standard bags of tendu patta. Tendu leaf procurement rate has been fixed at Rs 2500 per standard bag. Apart from this, the forest produce committees which benefit, will distribute the bonus to their members.
Hike in procurement prices of all forest produce
Chief Minister Chouhan has decided to increase the prices of all forest produce this time. Window to News

Forest produce	Last year’s rates (In Rs)	This year’s rates (in Rs)
Mahua	30	35
Achar Guthli (Chirounji)	109	130
Kusum ki lakh	203	230
Palash Lakh	130	150
Harra	15	20
Baheda	17	25
Belpoda	27	30
Chakoda	14	20
Honey	195	225
Karanj	35	40
Sal seed	20	25
Nimboli	23	30
Nagarmotha	27	35