Critical Understanding of Livelihood Promotion Approaches of NTFP based Livelihood in Chhattisgarh StateAkhileshwar Kumar, 31060 Aneesh Gulati, 31063 Ankit Saxena, 31065 Pritam Singh, 31092

Objectives Study of Interventions made by Chhattisgarh

State Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Federation Limited (CGMFP) towards livelihood security of rural poor. Understanding the Methodology used. Study of the Impacts of the CGMFP intervention

on the income/livelihoods on the rural poor.

Introductiony Role of Non Timber Forest Products(NTFPs). y CGMFP Initiatives. y Approach of the Livelihood intervention- Spatial

approach.

Design of InterventionStage I : Observing & Understanding Know The People: y 79.93% reside in Rural Areas y Sex Ratio 1000:1013 Assessing Asset Base & Factor Condition: y 44% geographical area under forestS. No 1 2 3 Forest Type Sal Forests Teak Forests Mixed Forests Area(Sq Km) 19682 5858 34230 % of GA 14.56 4.33 25.32 Biodiversity Status Very Rich Fairly rich Rich

Design of InterventionUnderstanding Local Demand Conditions y Maintaining The Green Cover y Livelihoods to poor forest produce gatherers

Design Of Interventiony y y y

STAGE II : Selecting Livelihood Activities Triangulation: Factors Responsible Large Rural Population Reduce Dependency Vagaries of Monsoon Realization of NTFPs

y Understanding The Demand Conditions y No Stake of State in Trade of NTFPs y High Potential of NTFP products like Tendu, Sal

Seed etc.

Intervention Decisionsy 3E Approach y Stakeholders y Officials y Interventions solving identified bottlenecks y Organizational Competency y Link ups and referrals

Collaborative Polygon

Outcomes and ImpactsNTFP plays a crucial role in securing livelihood for the poor. y As the forest cover of the state is more than 44%, NTFP as a source of livelihood gains greater significance. y The program is in its infant stage therefore it has not created major socio-economic changes but has been a great help in increasing the income of poor forest produce gatherersy

Certain Achievementsy Nearly 40,250 poor gatherers associated with trade

channel CGMFP Federation y Trade of NTFP-Marts increased from INR 64.7 Million to INR 147.6 Million in 1 year, showing increasing trend therefore, has helped check the exploitative practices of middlemen. y Created foundation for herbal medicine industry ayurvedic preparations are prepared under brand 'Chhattisgarh Herbal' y Chhattisgarh Lac trade at national level increased from 20 per cent (2004-05) to 38 per cent (2007-08) , creating employment for rural poor, especially women.

Continuedy Processes

of organized production, collection, processing and marketing involving SHGs have increased social cohesion in rural society. y Increased awareness towards the importance of forest resources in economic terms and this has led to their nondestructive use. y Infrastructure as drying platform and storage centers at grassroots level helped rural community to undertake primary processing, thus fetching additional prices for rural women.

USP of Interventiony Trade channel of non-nationalized NTFPs, groups

working at various stages such as village level, haat bazaar level, processing unit level, Sanjeevani retail outlet level is fixed but it has yet to get established in the whole trade. y Provision of revolving funds at different levels has significantly helped in smoothening the functioning of the system and thereby might be helping the rural poor to come out of the clutches of money-lenders and their exploitative practices.

Corrective Measuresy Timely

flow of information and decentralized decision making are two crucial aspects of this whole institutional set-up of five levels of transactions.

y Though the interventions are designed to suit

demand, factor, institutional and industrial conditions, many more steps have to be taken to develop the trade in MFPs for sustainable and beneficial support to livelihoods of forest dwellers.

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