Tribals earn pittance from tamarind sale as TDCC ‘backs out’

The collection and procurement of tamarind in Kalahandi district has taken a hit due to alleged lack of institutional support and incentives from the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation (TDCC), and the state government.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

As a result, farmers and collectors have to rely heavily on middlemen and traders which often lead to distress sale of their products, reports stated.

Despite expectations that TDCC would lead efforts to procure tamarind from local gatherers, their limited involvement has left tribal communities dependent on outside traders and middlemen, reports said.

These middlemen often exploit the situation, offering much lower than fair prices to marginalised communities, especially tribals who rely on tamarind collection and their sale for livelihood. As a result, tribals who are into this practice since generations continue to be fleeced by middlemen and outside traders.

TDCC is reportedly offering ₹3,600 per quintal of tamarind, but in remote and rural areas, setting and maintaining a fair market price per quintal procurement is proving difficult.