Establish more minor forest produce processing units: CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has told officials to increase the income of self-help groups working in minor forest produce and to establish the maximum number of processing units.

Baghel was holding a review meeting on Saturday, an official communication stated.

The Chief Minister said the state has abundant valuable minor forest produce. It also has human resources and land to set up the processing units. Some districts have done good work, hesaid.

Citing an example, he said ‘Safed Amchur’ (mango powder) is being produced at Dantewada and is now sold at Rs 600 per kg. In districts where there is mango production, such a processing unit can be established.

The state has set up 139 ‘Forest Produce Centre’ as primary processing centres. A total of 17,424 women are employed at these centres. These units have generated Rs 1.91 crores as income.

The Chief Minister also reviewed an integrated processing unit coming up in his assembly constituency Patan in Durg district. It will have processing centres for tamarind, amla and wood apple (Indian Bael). It will also have an herbal extract unit.