CGSMPB – CCD – CASES

Following are CCD experiences around Chhattisgarh useful for CGSMPB plans-

a) KALMEGH search & sales–

Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) is a herb growing wild & abundant in Kawardha

district. It is sold locally to traders/their purchase agents at Rs. 9/- kg. CCD found it in
the CGSMPB survey in Lohara range. Dr S. S. Bisen, CCD consultant & ex-scientist,
TFRI linked it to a pharma Co. in Nagpur who bought it at Rs. 17/- kg.

Local Vansanrakshan Samiti (VSS) got also the extra income of Rs. 5/- per kg by
separating the twig & the leaves. Poor quality material too got Rs. 10/- per kg price.
There are at least 25 such species not traded much from many parts of the state &
waiting market linkage e.g. Adulsa, Nirgundi. Lack of local storage facility, a common
problem, spoilt some stock.

b) BAEL value addition –

Bael is abundant & wild in Khaprakhol block, Balangir district Orissa State, adjoining
Chhattisgarh. Bael fruit was hardly sold here before CCD entry in 2008 when CCD
noted it in its resource survey. Initially, CCD helped the Women Self Help Group (SHG)
to sell it at Rs. 3/- per kg to local purchase agent Mr. Rafiq. About 20 ton of fruit was
sold earning Rs. 60,000/- to 60 women of 6 WSHG. This Rs. 1000/- each was 25%
additional income during Feb – March to the poor tribal women gatherers in 2009.

In 2010, the fruits were dried & sold at Rs. 6/- per kg. Quality also rose to 50 quintal &
dried fruit of 30 quintal earned Rs. 1,80,000/- (One lakh eighty thousand) to 100 women
of 15 WSHG in 12 villages.

In 2011, Bael fruit pulp was sold by de-shelling at Rs. 25/- per kg. Only 10 quintal could
be sold but Rs. 25,000/- was a premium to the gatherers from just 20 quintal fruit. The
rest were sold after drying as above.

In 2012, CCD got an order from Ramesh Panmasala Co., Cuttack to sell Baels fruit pulp
powder. About 50 quintal fruit was dried, its pulp was about 25 quintal powdered & sold
at Rs. 60/- per kg at Rs.150,000/- (One lakh fifty thousand). The rest was sold as dried
fruit at Rs. 2 lakh, benefiting as before.

Bael nursery is now established & replanting is initiated. Thus, the stepwise process of
new resource identification, trade, market linkage & semi processing was useful here.

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 c) PEEPALI CLUSTER:

CCD located Peepali (Piper longum) grown by farmers in Anjangaon block, Amravati
district of Maharashtra State in 2011. It’s a high value produce, sold at about Rs. 400/-
per kg locally, with much secrecy & malpractices. CCD found its market with Dabur Co.
& convinced the local farmers of benefits of such sales. Dabur chemist visited the
plantation & assured it as organic & potent after lab tests.

CCD got its local spice-pulse processing unit run by Ujjwal CBO evaluated as Rs. 10
lakh wroth. It was pledged as security to the Peepali farmers by MoU on stamp paper, if
the payment failed. Then, the farmers sold 20 quintal Peepali at Rs. 440/- per kg to
Dabur Co. against purchase order emailed to Ujjwal Group delivered price to Dabur was
Rs. 500/- include 3% commission to Ujjwal, taxes 5% transport 3% of it. Dabur paid it
within a month as promised & also invited the farmers to visit their factory at Gazhiabad,
Delhi. This honour motivated other farmers to join & sell double the quantum worth Rs.
20 lakh in 2012. Ujjwal unit is registered as small scale industry (SSI) in District
Industries union (DIC) & has bank a/c with State bank of India to facilitate such sales.

d) SATAVAR TRADE: WIDE SCOPE

CCD similarly showed the Dabur Co. the abundance of Satavar climber in Bejaypur
block forests, Sheopur district, MP State. Its root was sold at Rs. 80/- locally &
harvested in cash fashion, damaging the quality of the produce & the mother plant. CCD
guided about 100 saharia tribal women to collect only matured large roots & spare the
rest for future growth. CCD registered Gram Moolige Co. Ltd. Branch office here for
their sales facility & price, loan, market linkage benefit. It has HQ in Madurai, TN.

They collected 25 quintal roots from 5 villages worth Rs. 2.25 lakh. Dabur Co. bought it
at Rs. 90/- local price & Rs. 110/- delivered price at its factory at Pantnagar, Uttarachal
state, after the lab tests. Satavar nursery & replanting is now planned here for posterity.

Nagarmoth (Cyperus rotundus) is another resource identified here in the field visit of
Dabur co. chemist & tested as fair quality. Its purchase order for 5 ton worth Rs.1.1 lakh
is released now. Dabur also offered 30% advance payment this time.

Agnimanth shrub (locally called ‘Inni’: Chlorodendron Sp.) is another valuable resource
in the nearly Muraina district. It’s one of the famous Dashmula (ten roots) group of
plants used in making Chyavanprash (a tonic) & other Ayurvedic medicines. Sujagriti
NGO here, a CCD partner, led by Mr. Zakir Husain, guided the tribal here to collect &
sell 5 ton of it at Rs. 10/- to earn Rs. 50,000/- that they never earned before!

Other companies who did not pay this price found that Satavar price shot up to Rs.
150/- per kg in just 1 month by April! Thus, if the CBO can stock & sell the herbs with
constant assured demand they could earn 30-40% extra. Of course, they need to get
loan or min. 30% advance from the buyer company against MoU so that the gatherers/
farmers can meet subsistence costs in the waiting period of 3-4 months.