Govt to ensure MSP for minor forest produce

The government today assured the Lok Sabha that it would intervene if forest dwellers do not get minimum support price for minor forest produce.
A scheme for 'Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP' was launched recently by the government.
It is aimed at ensuring that forest dwellers get minimum support price for MFP.
"The government will intervene if they (forest dwellers) are not getting the minimum support price for minor forest produce," Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said.
He also noted that minimum support price depends on market forces.

Oram said that around "100 million forest dwellers depend on the Minor Forest Produce (MFP) for food, shelter, medicines, cash income etc".

According to him, the minimum support price is also a mechanism to recover the cost at the time of distress sale for select MFP by the gatherers.
"An expert group ensures determination of minimum support price for select MFP with entire set of input costs. Marketing operation at pre-fixed MSP is undertaken by the designated state agencies," he said.
Oram said the government supports development of new products or new usage of existing products with respect to MFP.

"It (Tribal Affairs Ministry) also supports creation of supply chain infrastructure; market information system; value addition; research and development, among others," he noted.