Suresh Partagiri, Bijapur. Clouds of crisis are looming over forest produce trade in Bastar region. In the last few years, there has been a decline in the arrival of forest produce in the haat markets. According to experts, the reason behind the decline in forest produce is decreasing forests and change in weather. There has also been a decrease in plantation in forests. Let us tell you that the main center of purchase for forest produce collected from the forest is the small haat markets in Bastar region. Apart from this, government committees are also purchasing centres.
This year a decline has been recorded in the arrival of Mahua. In this way, chironji and tamarind have also arrived in the haat markets in small quantities. It’s a topic of concern. According to traders, prices are increasing due to increase in demand. If the situation continues like this, the trade of forest produce in the market in Bastar may come to a halt in the coming few years. Tribal people dependent on forest produce may lose their source of income.
In this matter, Bijapur Forest Divisional Officer Ramakrishnam said that there is climate change all over the world, which has affected the Bastar region as well. Apart from this, there are also local factors, due to which the production of tamarind has decreased this year. Also, tribals from the interior areas are not coming to the haat markets. Due to this there has been a decrease in forest produce.
