Distress sale of Mahul hits millions in W Odisha TUESDAY, 10 APRIL 2012 11:12 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 20

Bhubaneswar  Distress sale of Mahul hits millions in W Odisha

Distress sale of Mahul hits millions in W Odisha

TUESDAY, 10 APRIL 2012 11:12

SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR

HITS: 20

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Decline in natural fall of Mahul flower this year owing to climatic irregularities is going to hit the livelihood of lakhs of poor people.

Mahul, which is a nature’s bounty, falls naturally and the poor people who collect it earn their livelihood for a minimum of two months in a year.

“This year the Mahul flower fall has declined considerably. It is due to change in weather and climate,” says Pitambar Rana of Budha Bahal village. This decline in fall of Mahul is not only found in western parts of Odisha but also in Bastar region of Madhya Pradesh. “This year in Bastar too there is hardly any Mahul fall,” points out Nandini Sundar.

Since there is a decline in the fall of Mahul flowers, we have to slog it out under the sun to collect it. Some even return home without much in the bag. Besides, soaring temperature is unbearable. After collecting, we dry the flower and then sell it at `12-14 per kg, says Bishikeshan, a villager.

The average price of Mahul per kg in Balangir district is hovering between `12 and `15, says Kulmamani Sahu of district forestry forum here. In Bhatali and Redhakhol, the price is hovering between `and `10. While in Boudh district, it is around `10, in Debgarh, it is around `7 to `15 per kg.

With a view to provide better remunerative price to the primary collectors, as per the rules, there should be a meeting of the Panchyat Samiti members in the local area. The price approved in the meeting remains valid for one year. Those who want to purchase Mahul should apply to the gram panchayat by obtaining licence and the person would report its storage, quantity and other details to the gram panchayat every fortnight. But this is hardly done. In case the gram panchayat is not satisfied with the price fixed by the Panchyat Samiti, it can fix a separate price for it.

In case a Panchayat Samiti did not fix the price, then the sub Collector can fix the price by convening a special meeting. It seems everybody only gives lip services for the primary collectors that they should get the remunerative price and distress sale should be checked. But few raise their voice to streamline it.

“The rules which state that the prices of the Non Timber Forest Produces (NTFPs) should be fixed by October are misplaced. We believe it should be in the December last week or by January first week, so that a real assessment of NTFPs production could be done,” points out Kulamani Sahu, who added that there should be more sensitisation of the PRI members and villages in this regard.

Mahul being sold at `10 to `15 per kg is too low a price. Given the hard work done by primary collectors, per kg price of Mahul should be minimum `25, says Sahu.

The Government should open a Mandi in each panchyat and should purchase it directly from primary collectors to ensure better remunerative prices, says a villager of Budha Bahal.

The Paschim Odisha Sangarsh Samiti in 1990 had launched a campaign to provide remunerative prices to the primary collectors. It had also demanded scientific processing and packaging of the Mahul flower using intermediate technology. This would bring additional price for the primary collectors, said former MP Bhabani Shankar Hota.

It is high time the alternative use of Mahul was planned. Mahul as cattle feed is of limited use. Mahul could be a part of ready to eat food, suggests veteran social activist Achyut Das.

With support from department of science technology, Vasundhara has been preparing Mahul Jam which has been well appreciated, he added.