(a) whether the Government has any proposal to protect Minor Forest
Produce (MFP) from market fluctuations;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the major recommendations of the MFP Committee with respect
to development of competitive market for MFP and capacity building of MFP
gatherers; and
(d) the measures taken to increase production and expand the market opportunities
for these goods?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MAHADEO SINGH KHANDELA)
(a) & (b): The issue of providing fair price to the gatherers for the MFPs and economically empowering the forest dwellers and the tribals in particular has engaged the attention of the Government in recent years. Dr. T. Haque Committee was constituted by Ministry of Panchayati
Raj to look into aspects of Minimum Support Price (MSP), Value addition and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) in Fifth Schedule Areas. On the basis of the recommendations of the
committee, a Central Sector Scheme of Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce has
been contemplated.
(c): The Committee, inter alia, recommended that strategic government intervention is
necessary in the form of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for selected Minor Forest Produce.
Further, the Committee recommended setting up of a “National Minor Forest Produce Price Commissionâ€, strengthening of the “Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation
of India, Ltd. (TRIFED)â€, strengthening of State Government Agencies, accountability to
Gram Sabha of all Corporations/Federations that undertake MSP operations, amending the
laws reflecting clearly the ownership of MFPs by the Gram Sabha etc.
(d): The details of the scheme have not been worked out.