Forest produce

About: Forest produce is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 137 publications have been published within this topic receiving 891 citations.

Marketing of minor forest produce in tribal areas by girijan co-operative corporation in visakhapatnam district of andhra pradesh

Abstract: Name of the Author : G. SRAVAN KUMAR Title of the thesis : MARKETING OF MINOR FOREST PRODUCE IN TRIBAL AREAS BY GIRIJAN CO-OPERATIVE CORPORATION IN VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH Degree to which it is submitted : Master of science in Agriculture Faculty : Agriculture Department : Agricultural Economics Major Advisor : Dr. K. NIRMAL RAVI KUMAR University : Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Year of submission : 2012 In India, MFP are an important livelihood source for several communities, particularly those living in forest fringe villages. . Forest Stewardship Council currently defined MFP as: “All forest products, except timber, including other materials obtained from trees such as resins and leaves, as well as any other plant and animal products”. About 400 million people in India depend on MFP for sustenance and supplemental income. According to 2001 census, the tribal population in India was 84 crores which accounts for 8.2 per cent of total population of the country. It is estimated that, there is one tribal man for every fourteen Indians. In India, about 53 per cent of total tribal population lives in rural areas and nearly 31 per cent of them are directly dependent on MFP for their livelihood. About 70 per cent of MFP collection in India takes place in the central ‘tribal belt’ of the country, in the five states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh, located in Peninsular India, is diverse in its forest types. It has been recorded that there are 33 tribal groups in the state residing in different forest areas, with 27 of them residing in the forests of Eastern Ghats in the districts of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Khammam, Warangal, Chittoor, and Adilabad (Brahma 1984). In Andhra Pradesh state, the tribal areas constitute 15 per cent of the total geographical area of the country. The state harbors significant number of tribal population to a tune of 5.02 crores accounting for six per cent of tribal population of the country, as the state comprises 22.7 per cent area under forest to the total geographical area of the country. In Andhra Pradesh state, Visakhapatnam district occupies a prominent position with reference to both the forest area (42.1 % of total geographical area of the state) and number of tribal population (6.57 % of total population of the district). Noticing the importance and contributive share of transacting MFP in the total income of tribal farmers, the Government of Andhra Pradesh established Girijan Co-operative Corporation in 1955 to look after the marketing prospects of MFP in the tribal areas, so as to ensure livelihood security and sustainability prospective on the part of tribal farmers in collecting and transacting minor forest produce. It is in this context, the study assume more importance, as it mainly aims at analyzing the marketing pattern of minor forest produce by the tribal farmers with the following specific objectives: 1. To study the organizational structure of Girijan Co-operative Corporation and its role in efficient marketing of minor forest produce. 2. To analyze and prioritize the factors responsible for transacting minor forest produce through Girijan Co-operative Corporation. 3. To study different marketing channels for transacting minor forest produce and compare marketing efficiencies across the channels. 4. To assess the impact of Girijan Co-operative Corporation in realizing higher prices for minor forest produce and income to the tribal farmers. 5. To study various marketing problems encountered by tribal farmers in transacting minor forest produce and offer relevant suggestions to address the same. The discussion on organizational setup of GCC in Visakhapatnam district has revealed that, the middle or intermediary level executives may be given with additional powers or responsibilities to relieve the burden of top level executive and to avoid delays in decision making. The study on the staffing pattern revealed that, the size of the staff by and large depends mainly upon the income of the GCC. The analysis of determinants of market arrivals of selected MFP revealed that, both average price and distance of transport showed significant negative relationships (for all the selected MFP) with the market arrivals. The transactions of MFP through GCC safe guards the interests of tribal farmers in getting higher prices compared to local shandies. The analysis on price spread revealed that, the farmer’s share in consumer’s rupee is highest, when the tribal farmers transacted the selected MFP through GCC compared to through local shandies. Garrett’s ranking test conducted for ranking the marketing problems faced by the tribal farmers in transacting MFP through GCC revealed that, lack of adequate amenities and facilities is the major problem followed by poor market intelligence network. Significant number of farmers felt that, provision of transportation facilities, scientific storage facilities and weighment facilities should deserve special attention.

Geomatics approach for cost effective extraction paths in forest areas (a case study of APFD-India)

Abstract: Forest roads play an important role in conservation of forests. Harvesting of forest produce has been a major activity to realize revenue for the government and proper utilization of the matured crop. While extracting the forest produce the economic viability of the extraction has to be looked into to maximize the profits keeping the market value and extraction cost in view. Transportation of the forest produce from the extraction points to the selected depots takes a major share of extraction costs. The objective of the present study is to identify the least cost paths to extract bamboo, in Kollapur sub-division of Achampet forest division, to lay new roads where there are no existing ones from selected points. In the present study an attempt has been made to find out various alternatives of the extraction paths from each coupe to the selected depot, taking landuse/landcover, slope, drainages, rivers, existing roads and their condition and bridges into consideration. These roads help in development of ecotourism, fire management and better communications.

Lessons from management of forest resources in maharashtra

Abstract: Many states in the country have initiated various measures to protect their forest resources. Maharashtra is no exception to this phenomenon. An attempt, therefore, has been made in this paper to examine the extent to which this state is successful in conserving and managing its forest resources. The main foci of attention of this study are on evaluating various forest related indicators of Maharashtra such as distribution of forest area, outturn of major and minor forest produce, income and expenditure pattern on state forestry, extent of social forestry, and afforestation, etc.The study revealed very interesting observations. One of the major observations of this study was the sharp decline in revenue receipts from state forestry, especially after the late eighties period. Very slow growth in total value of forest produce harvested and a sharp increase in total expenditure on state forestry were found to be the major causative factors responsible for this decline in revenue receipts. Although the Government has banned felling of trees in many parts of the state, it has also adversely affected not only the harvesting of forest produce and thereby revenue receipts from state forestry but also the working of FLCS in the state. The study provides certain policy suggestions that will not only help the state to increase its revenue receipts from state forestry but also in respect of achieving its goal of maintaining ecological balance in the state.

Impact of commercial non-timber forest produce for livelihood security among the chenchu

Abstract: The present study attempts to delineate an extent, dependence and livelihood security of Commercial Non-Timber Forest Produce (CNTFPs) for the Chenchu, particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) of Andhra Pradesh and to suggest the strategies for their sustainable development and utilization. Qualitative data on CNTFPs for livelihood substance collected from total 120 households belonging Chenchu tribe including males, females and children purposively in four settlements of the two mandals i.e. Atmakur and Kottapalli, Kurnool district by informal interview and direct observation methods include Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) during July 2014 to May, 2015.