1 week Ago By Himanshu
Sonepur: Mahua collectors in Subarnapur district, Odisha, are worried as they are forced to sell Mahua at throwaway prices due to the absence of government procurement and marketing facilities.These days, the entire environment in the district is filled with the fragrance of Mahua flowers. Women are venturing into the forest regularly at dawn to collect Mahua that fell the previous night and continues to fall from the trees.
Mahua is in high demand in Odisha due to its many medicinal properties and use in making country liquor. As a result, collecting and selling Mahua is a major seasonal profession in rural Subarnapur district. However, traders are no longer visiting the villages, leaving Mahua collectors who have collected quintals of Mahua flowers worried about the distressed sale of this minor forest product.
The collected Mahua is lying in their barns, and the collectors are concerned about how to sell it. Consequently, they are forced to sell it at throwaway prices of Rs 20-25 per kg. The collectors have demanded the appointment of a government-licensed dealer in Subarnapur district to procure Mahua at a price of Rs 80-100 per kg.
There are numerous forest villages in Subarnapur district, with people from over 100 villages earning a living by collecting and selling Mahua. Some even earn their entire yearly expenditure through Mahua collection.Although the government provides rice to poor families in the villages through the PDS system, they rely on collecting wild products for their livelihood.
If the government were to purchase Mahua at a fair price, the collectors claim they could earn more.Notably, about 7% of the 33% forest cover in Subarnapur district is comprised of Mahua trees. However, the collectors lack licenses, and there is only one licensed contractor in the district who procures Mahua as per his discretion.
The district collector has assured that the district administration will take immediate action in this regard.The distressed sale of Mahua flowers has significantly impacted the family budgets of Mahua farmers, leaving them economically vulnerable. Tribal people who support their families by selling Mahua flowers are now worried about how they will manage their household expenses.
They are eagerly awaiting the traders’ arrival for Mahua procurement.Watch the video here:Also read: Lankapodi Jatra of Daspalla: A 224-year legacy to preserve Odisha’s cultural heritage, watchThe post Mahua collectors in Subarnapur district worried over distress sales, watch appeared first on KalingaTV..
