Benefit For Tribals: MSP On Forest Produce Doubled By Centre; Total Of 40 Items Covered Under List

The Centre has introduced Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 17 more minor forest produce and increased the MSP of 19 forest items by 5 per cent to 200 per cent, Economic Times has reported.

The maximum increase in MSP of 200 per cent has been for hill broom grass. This is likely to give a big thrust to the BJP-led government’s tribal outreach, according to experts.

The scheme was launched by Congress-led UPA government in 2013-14. Under the scheme, MSP was offered for 24 identified minor forest produce (MFPs) collected by tribals in remote areas for sale in villages.

With the Centre’s expansion of the scheme, the total will reach 40 items. The products will include mahua flowers, tejpatta, jamun dried seeds, dried amla pulp, marking nut, soap nut, bhava seed, kokum, giloy, arjuna bark kaunch seed, chirata, vavding, nux vomica and dhavaiphool .

The Centre had alloted Rs 1,172 crore for the first five years to rollout the MSP scheme in the states. Only 25 per cent of the funds has been released to the states.