Federation to brand forest products in Jharkhand 

Three-tier structure to market and increase income of farmers

Ranchi, February 24: Under the firm direction of Chief minister Hemant Soren, Jharkhand took its first step towards branding of forest products with the formation of Sido Kanhu Agriculture and Forest Products Federation.

“The Federation is named after tribal martyr Sido-Kanho, with an ambition to bring all the farmers and forest produce collectors under one umbrella and ensure the strengthening of the rural economy by making farmers and forest dwellers self-reliant,” said a release issued by chief minister’s secretariat. .

The state of Jharkhand is blessed by the bounties and beauty of nature. The state boasts a unique abundance of Lac, Tassar, Honey, Tamarind, Chironji, Sal seed, Mahua etc. in its forests.

“Even then, the farmers of the state were not able to get fair prices for their produce. The formation of the Sidho-Kanho Union is a step to ensure economic prosperity and self-reliance for the farmers,” added the release.

The process of modernising all the PACS/LAMPS has been initiated with the target of providing a fair price and market for the forest produce.

“The Federation will have chief minister as it’ chairperson, while senior forest official would be its chief executive officer and a senior official in cooperative societies will be the additional officer,” said sources.

In this context, a one-day workshop will be organised in all the district headquarters for the promotion of livelihood related agriculture and forest produce through cooperatives.

“A similar workshop was held in Ranchi on February 17. Soon after the workshops membership drives will commence to connect all the PACS/LAMPS. The government also plans to provide training facilities to the members of LAMPS/PACS across the state for their agriculture related pursuits and produce,” the release added.

“The responsibility of providing a market for products of the Sido-Kanhu Agriculture and Forest Products Union will be fulfilled, as previously achieved with the Palash brand. Its primary objective will be to ensure proper market access to all LAMP-PACS in the district, capacity building, processing and building a strong brand,” said a senior official of cooperative society.

 A three-tier structure is being formed under the Sido-Kanhu Agriculture and Forest Products Federation.

The LAMPS/PACS will work at the panchayat level, the union at the district level and the federation at the state level. Panchayat level committees will perform the task of production and collection and the district level union will take care of processing.