Minor Forest Produce Co-Operatives 

AID - Jharkhand (Palamau & singhbhum Chapter)

 

Jharkhand being the land of plenty in natural resources. There is abundance of materials available especially the forest produce of lac, mahua, leaves for making beedies, oil seeds, tamarind and other forest produce. But due to lack of capital, the women collect these produce with great difficulty and barter to the traders for much less price.

After the formation of the micro credit groups, the women have started collecting the produce in large quantities and store it in go-downs . During the off-season when the price of these commodities
shoot up they are sold in the open market as bartering but against cash transactions.

So far around 122 minor forest produce co-operatives are set up in different regions of Jharkhand. The tribal and poor women are now gaining enterpreneurship skills and able to manage their
co-operatives well. Still there are other regions where the specific forest produce co -operatives are to be established.