Committee formed for fixing of minimum support rice: Minister

NEW DELHI: A committee is deliberating on a proposal for fixing minimum support price (MSP) of minor forest produce for tribals in the country, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Replying to a written question, Minister of environment and forests S Reghupathy said, "The proposal for fixing the minimum support price of non-nationalised minor forest produce was presented by the Chattisgarh government to the Cabinet last year."

A committee has been constituted by the ministry to deliberate for the welfare of the tribals in the country, he said. Reghupathy, however, added that the state government has not specified the exact amount to be fixed as MSP.

"The approximate annual value of raw non-nationalised minor forest produce is Rs 300 crore. Approximately, 12.65-lakh families mostly tribals are engaged in the collection of non-timber forest produce," the minister said.