Distress sale of sal seeds in Mayurbhanj district

Poor marketing facilities and absence of warehouses has affected sal seed collectors across Mayurbhanj district.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

They are forced to sell at distress rates to local procurers and not as per rate fixed by the government.

While the Sal seeds collectors had demanded Rs.50 per kg as against Rs 20 last year, the distress rate currently is around Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg.

The collection of Sal seeds is the main source of income of forest dwellers. Meghini Naik, Nalini Naik, Priyanka Chatarpania, Subuni Chatarpania, Kuni Tiria and Sukanti Chatar of Batapalsa and Badakashira Panchayats said the government handed over the responsibility of determining the prices and selling of minor forest produce (MFP) to the panchayats. But the pricing is actually controlled by traders. As a result, tribal collectors of Sal seeds and other forest produce in regions like Karanjia, Kaptipada, Rairangpur and Baripada in the district are suffering.