| West Bengal Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation Ltd. |
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| Marketing : |
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| Activities of Marketing Section |
The Marketing Section deals with collection and marketing of Non Timber Forest Produces (NTFPs), formerly known as Minor Forest Produces (MFPs).
Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds are the main Non Timber Forest Produces available in the Forest Areas of South West Bengal. Economically backward tribal people, living in and around these forest areas, usually collect the above produces for their livelihood. West Bengal Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation Limited (WBTDCC) gives top priority in collection of Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds through its affiliated Primary Level Tribal Co-operatives i.e. Large Sized Multipurpose Co-operative Society (LAMPS) as these provide seasonal employment to tribal people living in close proximity to the forests of Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur Districts. |
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| As there is much more potentiality of Sal Seeds in the forest areas under the jurisdictions of the LAMP Societies of Burdwan and Birbhum Districts also attempts are being taken from the end of this Corporation to involve those societies in the works of collection and disposal of Sal Seeds. |
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| The main object of NTFP Operations is to safeguard the poor tribal people from the exploitation of the unscrupulous private tradeRs. This not only generate the seasonal employment amongst the poor tribal people but to create Mandays also. |
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| After organization of the Large Sized Multipurpose Co-operative Societies Ltd. (LAMPS), the primary level Tribal Co-operatives affiliated to this Corporation, are engaged in collection and disposal of the NTFPs since the year 1976. |
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| The Forest Department of the Government West Bengal conferred the monopoly rights for collection and disposal of Non Timber Forest Produces mainly Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds through its affiliated LAMP Societies for a period of 5 (five) yeaRs. |
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| Every year this Corporation deposits the Royalty at the fixed rates to the Forest Department on behalf of the LAMP Societies participate in NTFP Operations. |
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| In order to smooth functioning of the NTFP Operations this Corporation prepare a Calendar and circulate the same amongst the participant LAMPS. |
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| In terms of the conferred Monopoly Rights this Corporation allots respective Forest Areas in the month of November/December every year to the concerned LAMPS for participation in NTFP Operations in the next Crop Year. The untapped Forest Areas are allotted to the neighbouring willing LAMPS. |
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| On getting the allotment orders the LAMP Societies fix up the targets for Pruning of Kendu Plants, collection of Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds as well as the quantum of financial assistance to be required for NTFP Operations submit loan proposals to the Head Office through the concerned Regional Managers with their views and recommendations. |
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| After careful observation of the loan proposals and the financial position of the intending societies the targets and the quantum of financial assistance are determined at Head Office based on the norms fixed by the Board of Directors of this Corporation in the following manner : |
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| The required financial assistance are sanctioned to the respective LAMPS, at the rates fixed by the Board of Directors, in the form of Cash Credit duly the approved by the Investment, Business and Programme (I.B.P.) Committee formed by the Board of Directors of this Corporation and subsequently released from the Regional Offices against requisition of the LAMP Societies. |
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| In the Crop Year 2008 the cost for Pruning of Kendu Plants has been paid at Rs. 60.00 (Rupees Sixty only) per Acre. |
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| In the Crop Year 2008 the collection cost of Kendu Leaves has been raised to Rs. 15.50P. per Kg. out of which the tribal collectors will be paid Rs. 12.00P. per Kg. as the cost of leaves i.e. Rs. 30.00 per Chatta (contains 2000 leaves). |
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| It is pertinent to mention here that the rate of collection of Kendu Leaves has been hiked from Rs. 6.50P. per Kg. to Rs. 15.50P. per Kg. during the years 2000 to 2008. |
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| The tribal collectors had been paid Rs. 2.70 per Kg. for the collection of Sal Seeds in the Crop Year 2008. In addition to that the collectors had been paid Rs. 2.30 per kg. as Subsidy resulting payment of Rs. 5.00 for every kg. of Sal Seeds. |
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| The Pruning of Kendu Plants is undertaken in the second half of January and completed within the first half of February every year. |
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| The period of collection of Kendu Leaves is middle of April to the end of May. But, collection of Kendu Leaves from the Forest Areas of Paschim Medinipur starts some days before. |
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| The collection of Sal Seeds starts from middle of May is to be completed by the end of June. |
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| The collection of Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds is done mainly by the tribal women. |
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From the year of 2006 this Corporation has decided and arranged to engage the Panchayet, B.D.O., D.R.D.A., F.P.Cs. and SHGs in collection of NTFPs and disposal of the collected produces to its neighbouring LAMP Societies at the rates fixed by this Corporation and abiding by the terms and conditions the concerned LAMPS arrange disposal of the same.
The Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds are collected by the LAMP Societies and stored in the godowns. |
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| The collected Kendu Leaves are sold in fali form through Auctions and/or Negotiation organized by this Corporation. The said leaves are purchased by the Kendu Leaves Buyers enlisted with this Corporation abiding by the terms and conditions of sale of Fali Kendu Leaves. |
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| Every year this Corporation invites Quotations from the potential Sal Seeds buyers of the Country and the same are sold to the highest rate givers at the terms and conditions framed from this Corporation. |
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| From the performance of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) Operations of last five years it is observed that the collection figure varies year to year, the reason of which may be attributed to the fact that the production of Kendu Leaves and Sal Seeds are the natural forest produces solely dependant upon the climatic conditions and the quantum of production fluctuates every alternate year. |
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| Intrusion of Private Traders into the field which is out and out an illegal matter causing a menace to the LAMPS is a factor which has been playing a grate role in reducing the quantum of collection by the LAMP Societies. WBTDCC is contemplating some precipitate measures to arrest such illegal trading. |
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| Apart from the above the Corporation also undertakes the Forest Felling Works in the forest areas allotted to the LAMPS and at the rates fixed by the Forest Department of West Bengal. |
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| In order to expand its NTFP and other Forest oriented business, this Corporation is keen on exploring some new potential area as are appended below: |
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Cultivation and marketing of various NTFPs like Bamboo, Odal, Citronella, Areca nut, Turmeric etc. and introduction of projects of Beekeeping (Apiary) in the District of Jalpaiguri. |
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Collection and processing of Shellac in the District of Purulia. |
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Implementation of the Projects of Beekeeping (Apiary) in the District of North 24-Parganas. |
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Collection of Sal Leaves from the forest areas of South Bengal and implementation of projects of Sal Leaf Plate making. |
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The possibility of undertaking the Project of Floriculture in the District of Purba Medinipur. |
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Cultivation of Cashew Nuts by the LAMPS mainly in the District of Paschim Medinipur which may be sold out by the Auction during the flowering time. |
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Tasar Culltivation (Sericulture) activities may be taken up in some pockets of Purulia, Bankura Districts in the Forest Areas with the help of Sericullture and Forest Department. |
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