MFP Items Worth Over Rs 2,000 Crore Procured In India Since April

New Delhi: Minor Forest Produce (MFP) items worth more than Rs 2,000 crore have been procured in the country since April this year.

The MFP items worth Rs 835 crore were procured through Central government and state funds and around Rs 1200 crore through private trade (mandis/bazaars) in 17 states.

This was disclosed at a media briefing webinar organised by TRIFED in New Delhi on Thursday. The webinar titled “MSP for MFP takes roots in Tribal India” was chaired by Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED.

The Van Dhan Yojana (start-up scheme), an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, was launched with 1205 tribal enterprises. It has provided employment opportunities to 3.6 lakh tribals and 18,000 self-help groups in 22 states.

Pravir Krishna said the scheme was limited to two states initially and expanded to 17 states subsequently.

In order to provide a fillip to the sagging tribal economy, a revised MSP for MFP guidelines was issued on May 1 which increased the MSP prices of the MFPs by upto 90 per cent and helped provide higher income to the tribal gatherers.

The Ministry also recommended addition of 23 new items under the MSP for MFP list. These items include agricultural and horticultural produce collected by tribal gatherers.