Jharkhand government will market state's minor forest produce: CM Raghubar Das

RANCHI: Chief minister Raghubar Das on Sunday pledged to offer a helping hand to Jharkhand's minor forest producers by selling a bulk of their yearly produce through the newly constituted Mukhayamantri Udyami Board.
Das attended a two day training program of the state's village level forest management committees organized by the state ministry for forests, environment and wildlife in Mahilong near Ranchi. Here, Das also announced that his mission was to "spin a web of cottage industries" to plug migration from villages.

"The Board will market the products of the state's minor forest producers. Products such as honey, lac and tussar will be purchased directly from the farmers. There will be no middlemen. Through the board, we will market the products across the country and overseas," the CM said. Das also holds the portfolio of the forest minister in his 11 member cabinet.

Das announced that his government will offer Rs 4 lakh to the tribal farmers who take up poultry in months to follow. "The 3 lakh population, who do not own land or a house, will be taught to stitch blankets and will be assisted in taking up bamboo plantation," the CM said.

Stating that "half of the market is government itself", the CM went on to announce that his government will directly purchase all of the honey being produced by the state's farmers. The government will itself create the market by giving pouches of honey to government school-children in their mid-day meals, Das said. The CM then announced that packaged honey will be sold in nations that have a cold climate.