Bargarh: It is not only farmers of paddy and vegetables who resort to distress sale, collectors of minor forest produce like mahua also sell the flowers at throwaway prices in the absence of proper procurement system.
Unscrupulous traders, cashing in on the absence of proper marketing facilities, exploit the mahua collectors and smuggle the produce to other states, it was learnt.
According to reports, Padmapur sub-division is considered a drought-hit region of Bargarh district. Farmers here raise crops depending on rain water. Mahua collection is considered an alternative source of income for them.
Many people in Ambabhona, Bhatli and other blocks maintain their family by collecting mahua. However, traders of Chhattisgarh and other areas have now set their eyes on the district ahead of mahua collection season.
It is alleged the traders manage to smuggle mahua to other states greasing the palms of the police, excise and forest department officials.
With no procurement centre in place, the mahua collectors have to sell their produce at much lesser price to the profit-mongering traders. Though the distress sale of mahua has been a regular affair over the years, it is surprising that it is yet to draw the attention of district administration, locals said.
Though Bargarh district is known as the rice bowl of the state for its bumper paddy production, the production is limited to the regions that get irrigation facility from Hirakud reservoir. People of many blocks including Padmapur, Paikamal, Jharbandh, Sohela, Gaisilet and Bijepur still supplement their earning by selling mahua flowers.
At present, scores of traders of neighbouring Chhattisgarh have camped in at remote areas like Paikamal, Buden and Jharbandh to buy mahua. Some liquor traders have also deputed their agents in the villages to collect mahua. However, such traders offer very nominal price to the collectors.
Besides, the collectors have to offer 50 per cent of the total collection to the owner of the tree which reduces their earnings further, it was learnt.
“Like every year, the dried up mahua is being sold for anything between Rs 15 and 20. We don’t get the worth of our labour by selling the produce at such low price,” Gurubari Bariha of Bilaspur village said.
Her husband has gone to Bangalore to work as a labourer. Had a minimum support price been fixed for mahua, the poor villagers wouldn’t have to migrate to other states, Gurubari added.
Mahua is sold at about Rs 50 a kg in Chhattisgarh. But traders pay them just Rs 15 per kg. People of this district will get some respite from being exploited by traders if the government opens mandis and fixes a price of the produce, Saraswati Endja of Saladihi opined. PNN
