MINOR FOREST PRODUCE (MFP)

NEWS: Government procurement of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) at Minimum Support Price (MSP) has fallen by about 92% in 2024–25 compared to the previous year (2023–24)

Minor Forest Produce (MFP)

• Minor Forest Produce refers to forest-based products other than timber, collected mainly by tribal and forest-dwelling communities.
• Examples: Tendu leaves (used for beedis), Mahua flowers & seeds, Bamboo, Sal seeds, Honey, lac, tamarind, medicinal herbs

IMPORTANCE OF MFP

• Primary livelihood source for many tribal households
• Provides cash income, especially in lean agricultural seasons
• Linked to nutrition, culture, and traditional knowledge

MSP for MFP

• MSP for MFP ensures a minimum assured price for forest produce collected by tribals.
• Objective: Prevent exploitation by middlemen, ensure fair income to tribals, promote sustainable forest-based livelihoods
• Implementation: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, state Governments, through agencies like TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation

DATA

• Procurement of MFP at MSP: Dropped by over 92%, across 19 States, from 2023–24 to 2024–25
• Funds released so far: ₹319.65 crore released to States for MSP procurement
• This shows that fund release alone does not guarantee procurement on the ground

IMPACT OF THE DECLINE

• Reduced assured income
• Increased dependence on: Private traders, distress sales
• Implementation gap: Poor state-level execution, weak procurement infrastructure, delays in payments

Broader constitutional & policy linkages

• Article 46: Promotion of economic interests of Scheduled Tribes
• Forest Rights Act, 2006: Recognises rights of forest dwellers over MFP
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • SDG 1 (No Poverty)
  • SDG 8 (Decent Work)
  • SDG 15 (Life on Land)