Additional profit and employment from the collection of food grade Mahua flower
Manendragarh forest division was first in the collection of food grade Mahua flower in the state
Raipur, 29 June 2023
There is an important plan to market the food grade Mahua flower stored in Chhattisgarh abroad by the State Small Forest Produce Association. Through this, Mahua flower gets additional benefits. It is notable that out of 694.94 quintals of food grade Mahua flowers collected in the state in the year 2023-24, 503.65 quintals of food grade Mahua flowers have been collected only by Manendragarh Forest Division. In this way Manendragarh Manendragarh Forest Division stood first in Chhattisgarh in food grade Mahua flower collection work this year.
Due to its quality of Mahua flower in Chhattisgarh and the convenience of the new technology provided by the state government, its fragrance has now started reaching the country and abroad. According to the intention of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, under the guidance of Forest and Climate Change Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar, continuous efforts are being made in the state to provide maximum benefits to the collectors from collection and processing of minor forest produce etc. to the forest dwellers. In this episode, the collection of food grade Mahua flower is very beneficial.
According to the information received from the Forest Officer, Manendragarh, food grade Mahua flowers (raw Mahua) were collected through the net under the Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Society of District Union Manendragarh, Bhaunta, Belbahara, Ghutra, Kachhod, Kelhari, Belgaon, Junanwa and Madisarai. 10.00 from the collectors. 503.65 quintals of raw Mahua flowers have been collected at the rate of one kilogram. After collection, Mahua flowers were dried through solar dryer. Rs 5 lakh 3 thousand 650 was paid to the collectors as collection remuneration of Mahua flowers. After drying and processing in solar dryer, a total of 99.60 quintals (A grade – 78.30 quintals and B grade – 21. Received 30 quintals) food grade Mahua flowers. The processing work of the said raw Mahua flower has been completed by 20-20 women members of self-help groups under Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Janakpur and Kathautia. The women of the group were provided employment for 60 days between April and May 2023. The women have been paid wages at the rate of Rs 200 per day. The bag of Mahua flower A and B grade received after processing has been stored safely at Aquafood and Fold Storage, Bilaspur Bypass, Ring Road No. 03 Vidhansabha Road Giraud Raipur.
By drying food grade mahua flowers, 1 kg of dried mahua flowers is obtained from 5 kg of mahua flowers. In this way, the purchase rate of dried Mahua was Rs.50 per kg, while the purchase rate of dry Mahua flowers in the market was Rs.30 to 35 per kg. In this way, the beneficiaries got additional benefit from the collection of food grade Mahua flowers. Also, collecting Mahua flowers by tying nets under Mahua trees saved the collectors from the effort of collecting each and every Mahua flower in the hot summer season. Mahua flower collection made easy. There was no need to take Mahua flowers to the market for sale. In the financial year 2023-24, food grade Mahua was collected by 123 Mahua beneficiaries by tying nets under 213 Mahua trees.
The collection work of food grade Mahua flower is being liked a lot by the villagers and in the coming years more number of beneficiaries have agreed to collect food grade Mahua flower through net. The beneficiary is very excited for this work. Self-help groups got additional employment by tying nets in trees, collecting, transporting, drying in dryers, bagging and extracting cumin seeds during food grade Mahua collection.
