Minor Forest Produce of Medicinal Plants

As per the provision of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, ‘Minor Forest Produce’ includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin including bamboo, brush wood, stumps, cane, tussar, cocoons, honey, wax, lac, tendu or tendu leaves, medicinal plants and herbs, roots, tubers and the like. However, Dr. T. Haque Committee constituted by M/o Panchayati Raj to look into aspects of Minimum Support Price (MSP), Value addition and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) in Fifth Schedule Areas, had made certain recommendations about Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the Minor Forest Produce (MFP). Based on these recommendations and to ensure remunerative returns to MFP gatherers, a Central Sector Scheme of MSP for MFP has been contemplated. However, details of such a scheme have not been worked out as yet.

No such proposal has been received from State Governments so far as Ministry of Tribal Affairs is concerned.