Middlemen stifle mahua flower collectors in Kalahandi

Kalahandi: Tribal communities in Odisha’s Kalahandi district are being exploited while collecting mahua flowers. It is a significant forest product. Despite the state government fixing its price, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is Rs 25 per kg. But the middlemen do the malpractice; they buy flowers at a lower price, Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg. This happens due to a dearth of proper marketing and a lack of cold storage.

Although the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has set MSPs for 72 minor forest produce items, including mahua flowers. However, local authorities did not take much interest in the implementation of the rules effectively. The guidelines require women’s self-help groups (SHGs) to purchase mahua at the MSP, but this rarely happens. Meanwhile, middlemen store mahua flowers with ease.

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Collection of mahua flowers during the three-month cultivation season is a big source of income for several tribal families living in Junagarh, Golamunda, and Lanjigarh blocks. But they don’t get the real price of their labour due to unorganized markets and the interference of middlemen.

According to activists, the Odisha government has been earning huge revenue from liquor made from these flowers. Kalahandi is known for producing alcohol in huge quantities, but mahua flower collectors don’t get enough profits to sustain their lives. Activists have urged the government to enforce MSP rules, support SHG procurement, and suppress the illegal hoarders.

This initiative is expected to improve the condition of mahua flower collectors; their income is likely to be increased, and the meddling of middlemen will be over. After that, the tribal people of Kalahandi can take a sigh of relief.