'Value added forest products have changed tribal lives'

Speaking at a workshop on the sustainable management and value added programmes for the small forest products organised by LAMP Co-operative Society at Koppa Forest Community Centre, he said the project involving appropriate reaping, environment friendly storing method and value added products were started three years ago. Today it has led to the production of quality products, thus leading to the financial stability among the tribals.

He informed that due to the work jointly carried out by the LAMPS, UNDP Environmental Education Institution and Forest Department a notable change has occurred in the quality of the products.

“Murugana Huli which was once dried using three quintal wood is now dried using just 1/4 quintal wood. The products such as bamboo shoots, Kedige mats, broomsticks, cinnamon are sold at double the previous price. It is a positive change,” he opined.

Speaking on the occasion, District Forest Officer Manjunath Chauhan informed that LAMPS has earned a profit of Rs 21 lakh this year. He attributed the profits to the value addition process. The Society will be a model Society in the State, he said.

He asked the tribals to make use of the jack fruits grown in the forest, rather than wasting them. “The tribals should come out of the misconception that there would be shortage of bamboo sticks for preparation of incense sticks. Enough bamboo sticks are available,” he said

Nagendra Prasad from Sagara informed the participants about the various uses of jack fruit. As many as 300 varieties of eatables can be prepared using jack fruit. Salad, jack fruit manchurian, Masala Pappad etc prepared out of jack fruit would have great demand, he said.