GCC to procure herbal produce from forests

Girijan Cooperative Corporation Limited (GCC) recently received permission from the state government to procure 34 varieties of medicinal herbs from the forests.

GCC is now gearing up to market the same from this fiscal, and expects the marketing of medicinal herbs to be a new revenue stream to the corporation.

"For the last several years, we have been requesting the state government to allow us to procure medicinal herbs from the forests. We have received the government's approval for collecting herbal plants from forests. So, we expect our herbs business turnover to touch Rs 5 crore this fiscal," PDV Prasad, general manager of GCC, told Business Standard.

As per the government orders, GCC can henceforth procure 34 varieties of medicinal herbs including Abrus Precatorius seeds, Achyranthues Aspera plant, Aegle Marmolos fruit and root, Aloe Indica plant (Kalabanda), Argyeia Speciosa fruits and flowers, Bombax Melabarcium gum, Caosalpinia Bonduc nut, Centella Asiatica plant, Gymnema Sylvestre leaves, Mollotos Phillippensis leaf, Syzyaium Cumine seed and bark, Tinospora Cordifolia stem bark and Woodfordia Fruiticosa flower.

"The tribals have been illegally collecting herbal plants from the forests and selling the produce to local traders at throwaway prices. GCC, however, had no rights to procure the herbal produce from the tribals. Keeping this in mind, we approached the state government for permission, and the government responded positively," Prasad said.

He said that the corporation is planning to train the tribals on how to collect the herbs while maintaining its medicinal qualities.

"We have a ready market to sell these herbal plants. So, to collect more herbs from the forests and to avoid the intervention of private merchants, we are encouraging the tribals by way of announcing attractive prices for herbal plants," he said.