Forest dwellers get benefit from tamarind processing in India

Tamarind processing has brought new prosperity to the forest dwellers in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh forest dwellers have begun collecting, processing tamarind. During the adverse conditions of corona, and water crisis, a newfound way of employment i.e. tamarind processing has helped many forest dwellers. Moreover, it helped them to earn income of Rs. 2.48 crores. Employment of 10,174 man-days was generated for the forest dwellers. The tamarind procured on Minimum Support Price is processed through the established Van Dhan Vikas Kendras. In 2020-21, work of tamarind procurement for making flower tamarind from ‘aati’ tamarind in Van Vikas Kendras had conducted by women self-help groups. Out of this, 39,389 quintals of ‘aati’ tamarind were processed till 31 January 2021, and 4,555 quintals of flower tamarind and 3,314 quintals of tamarind seed were obtained. Forest dwellers of Jagdalpur, Naraynpur, Dharamjaigarh, Katghora, East ...