Ministry moots sops for units processing forest produce
The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has proposed financial support for development of micro enterprises meant for processing forest produce like amla, honey and medicinal plants.
By Neha Kohli, TNN |
NEW DELHI: From planting trees to running an enterprise, afforestation programmes may soon become a source of income for village communities. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has proposed financial support for development of micro enterprises meant for processing forest produce like amla, honey and medicinal plants.
The proposal should be implemented during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period, the ministry said. MoEF has sought budgetary allocation of Rs 8,000 crore for the National Afforestation Programme, which is about seven times more than what was allocated in the Tenth Plan. ���Given that the steering committee for environment and forests under the Planning Commission has made a similar proposal, the scheme is likely to see the light of day��� said the source.
The ministry has proposed the scheme to encourage villagers to take up afforestation activities. While performing afforestation activities under the forest development agencies (FDAs), villagers collect non-timber produce like honey and medicinal plants. The produce which is otherwise sold in its raw form to cooperatives or local traders could be processed.
���The income that the villagers get by selling raw produce is meagre��� the source said. He said that by adding value to non-timber forest produce like honey by processing and packaging, villagers could get the real value of the product. Thus such a scheme could supplement the income levels of villagers.
Support could be in the form of micro-finance or technical assistance by providing technology and infrastructure building. The detailed cost norms for the scheme however need to be worked out. These norms will supplement the seven components under the cost norms per hectare for afforestation activities that vary according to the nature of the activity like artificial or natural regeneration, soil and moisture conservation and fencing.
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Under the 715 FDAs in the country, there are 23,750 joint forest management committees (JFMCs) which are supported by the ministry. The JFMCs prepare afforestation plans which are approved by the FDAs. FDAs further send the proposals for monetary support to the ministry. ���There are other JFMCs that are supported by the state government which could also follow similar extended norms��� said the source.Download
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