Ranchi: Jharkhand has more than 29 percent forest cover with a variety of forest produce. With that in consideration, the Jharkhand state government has embarked on a policy of making the forest produce a source of income for the rural population of the state. Chief Minister, Hemant Soren directed officials to work on the possibility of encouraging the sale and branding of forest produce. This led to a transformation in the income opportunities available to many families.
Meanwhile, Kusum and Karanj flowers are found in abundance across the forest stretches of Jharkhand. A substantial part of it is found in Simdega, Khunti, Latehar, Gumla, and Hazaribag. They have a high demand in the market. Kusum oil is used in hair care, cooking, and as a natural moisturizer. Karanj is an insect repellent with insecticidal and antiseptic properties and cures eczema, skin irritation, dandruff. The oil of Kusum and Karanj is used in cosmetic products, soaps, insecticides manufacturing, and as medicine too. Now, with the help of the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), farmers involved in the production of Kusum and Karanj are earning their livelihood through the sale of oil. More than 12,500 farmers are involved in the process, earning an additional Rs 1500 to Rs 4000 per month. Additionally, almost 300 farmers are making up to Rs 4500 a month by working as a member with the rural service centers.
Moreover, Chief Minister had also directed the officials to ensure that people dependent on forest produce should get the right price for their crop. Subsequently, JSLPS started working on multiple projects across the state to promote the farming of forest produce by providing farmers with a platform for selling and getting the maximum price for their crops and other products.
At present JSLPS is working on its medicinal plants (Kusum and Karanj) project at Simdega, Gumla, Khunti, Hazaribag, and Latehar to provide opportunities to 12,500 farmers of the state. Farmers have been linked with producer groups to do business. They have been trained in the scientific collection of seeds. This way, they can get the right price and the collected products do not get wasted. The farmers collect the seeds through the producer group and finally sell them to the Gramin Seva Kendra. Oil expeller units have been installed at Gramin Seva Kendra. In the process, 11.2 metric tonnes of Karanj oil has been produced and about three thousand farmers have participated in seed collection work. Out of this, 1800Kg karanj oil was made available for sale through Palash Mart.
Presently, the oil produced is packed in 1-liter bottles and sold at Rs 155 in the market through Palash Mart. With the help of Gramin Seva Kendra at Katakamsandi, Hazaribag, and Vanopaj Kisan Producer Company located in Daru block, Kusum and Karanj oils have been launched through Palash Mart. Additionally, 10,000 bottles have been packed for sale to farmers, which they can use in the treatment of skin-related ailments of their animals.
JSLPS, CEO, Nancy Sahai said, “The State Government is making efforts for the economic upliftment of people dependent on forest produce. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, JSLPS is working day and night to ensure that farmers involved in forest produce farming get the right price through Palash Mart. This has also helped in boosting the confidence of the villagers. We are working on many other farm projects across the state.”
