BHUBANESWAR: With tribal population suffering losses due to the shortage of non-timber forest produce (NTFP) plants in wake of fast forest degradation, Silviculture wing of the State Forest Department has managed to bring down gestation period of fruit and flower bearing in over 20 plant species. The success rate has been estimated to be 50 to 98 per cent.

"We have successfully reduced the gestation period of more than 20 NTFP plant species. An `amla' (emblica officinalis) tree, which generally bears fruit in 14 years, could now yield in three to four years time. Similarly, other gestation period of NTFPs such as `char seed' (buchanania lanzan and latifolia), `mahua' (Madhuca Indica) and tamarind (tamarindus indica) has been reduced," says silviculturist B.K. Swain.

Success rate

Mr. Swain says during last two years the research wing experimented through grafting process and tasted success in getting the crop much earlier than the normal period.

He says silviculturists found success in neem (Azadirachta Indica) (98 per cent), Harrida (50 per cent), Bahada (80 per cent), Karanj (98 per cent) and Bela (83 per cent).

The tribal population critically depends on various NTFPs as these crops provide cash in their hand. A study says the procurement price offered by private traders for `amla' has increased 10 times during last eight years due to its increased consumption in manufacturing of herbal products.

Similarly, the collection of `mahua' constitutes an important part in village economy in tribal dominated area. The study says the employment opportunity created by the production and collection of `mahua' has been astounding.

However, tribals often suffer due to less number of trees and crop failure.

Mr. Swain says during next two years the department will work on how canopy of these species could be expanded. "As the trade of most of these NTFPs is in the hand panchayats, it is high time that people should start commercial production of species. Proper propagation of these developed species will surely help sustain the tribal economy in a big way," he says.

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