Following the directive of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and keeping the interests of forest dwellers and villagers in mind, the state forest department on Wednesday decided to procure deseeded tamarind at the minimum support price.

State forest minister Mohammed Akbar said the    government has decided to     purchase seedless tamarind at the minimum support price (MSP), taking the number of forest products to be purchased at the MSP to 23.

The minimum support price for seedless tamarind will be Rs 54 for every kg, Akbar said and added that the target of procurement has been kept at 20,000 quintal every year.

The tamarind collectors are expected to be paid more than Rs 11 crore through the procurement and It would benefit more than 5,000 tribal villagers, he said.

The forest minister hoped that with the decision as it will benefit forest villagers and forest dwellers as their produce will  now generate a fixed income for them.

In tribal-dominated Bastar division, including Gariaband district, tribes people collect large quantity of tamarind  from the forests and then they sell it in either as seedless or seeded produce in the local markets.

Akbar said as per the initiatives of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, efforts are being  made to link the forest villagers and forest dwellers  with value addition of forest produce and a work plan for which has been drafted.

Between 2015  and  2018  only seven  forest produce were being procured  at the minimum support price, which now has been increased to 23, the minister said.

The forest produce that are being purchased at the minimum support price include lac, honey,  dry mahua flower, dry jamun seeds, and alma among others, he said.