East Godavari district

Forest coverage in East Godavari District is roughly 30% of the geographical area. It has one forest division and 9 ranges. Two wild life sanctuaries - Koringa and Papikonda are located in the district that is equally rich in agriculture and industries. Bhadrachalam Paper mills and plywood industries are some of the forest-based industries that become strong stakeholders in the district with the forest dependent communities. Being part of the sub plan area, tribal communities in the villages studied do not receive any benefits like their counterpart in the scheduled area under ITDA projects. The primary occupation of these communities is agriculture labour and rearing of cattle.

Yerakapuram

One third of the families living in the village depend on NTFP for part of their livelihood. Following table gives the details of NTFP dependency of the village. Tamarind, Palateega, Honey, Marking nut, Seethaphal and Soap nut are the most important NTFP in terms of number of families dependent. In terms of economic return to the families per week the produces in decreasing order of importance are - Seethaphal, Honey, Palateega, Tamarind, and Soap nut. While GCC has monopoly rights over procurement in all other produces, Seethaphal can be sold to the private traders. However as can be observed, people sell even the monopoly items to private traders as well as to GCC due to various reasons. Some of the items procured by private traders are later sold to GCC. There are 2 categories of items that are exclusively sold to GCC by the primary gatherers - items like Guma Karaya that has a very limited buyers and items like Galnut that are low valued and are not procured by traders as the market is depressed and uncertain.

* Total amount calculated as per minimum collection of NTFP during a week.

Siddivaripalem

The number and proportion of families dependent on NTFP are higher in this village. It can also be seen from the following table that average per family returns is higher then the previous village. The important produces in this village are - Tamarind, Palateega, Gum Karaya, Brooms, Seethaphal and Soap Nut. In terms of weekly economic returns to primary gatherers during the respective seasons, the produces in decreasing order are - Palateega, Seethaphal, Soap Nut, Gum Karaya and Brooms.

* Total amount calculated as per minimum collection of NTFP during a week.

Visakhapatnam district

More then one third of land in Visakhapatnam is covered under forest. The forests are moist and dry deciduous type. The district is divided into 3 forest divisions and 19 ranges. The district is also rich in the mineral resources and is on a strategic location being by the sea in the east direction. Due to the presence of forest cover and a long chain of hills tourism is an important industry. The city headquarter has a large number of big industries located in it. Thus there are conflicting interests between conservation of forests, tourism, mining, and other industries in the district.

Vankachintha

Vankachintha is one of the tribal villages of Paderu Mandal of Visakhapatnam district. It is about 80 kms from Visakhapatnam towards Paderu. The NTFP particulars of village are mentioned in the following table. Here all the families are dependent on NTFP for contribution to their earnings. However as can be observed weekly collection is much less then the villages in East Godavari district. The forest density also less then the villages studied in East Godavari. Bamboo is a major forest produce in this village that contributes a significant amount of incomes form the forest. This also might be one of the reasons why collection from other NTFP is less. The NTFP of importance in terms of economic returns are - Kakkuthikayulu, Hill Brooms, Honey, and Tamarind. However, it is Adda Leaves, Kakkuthikayulu, Marking Nut and Tamarind on which maximum number of families are dependent. Other noticeable feature is that GCC is much more active in this region as it is procuring many more produces then that in the previous district.

* Total amount calculated as per minimum collection of NTFP during a week.

Kumarthom

Kumarthom is located in Vantalamamidi Panchayat of Paderu Mandal about 90 kms from Visakhapatnam towards Paderu. All the families belong to ST (Konda Dora) and depend on forest and its produces for their livelihood. Here also bamboo is an important produce as it contributes the most in cash income. Though this village is nearby the previous one, collection of NTFP is higher then the former in quantity as well as variety. Though it is Tamarind, Adda leaves and Seethaphal on which all the families are dependent for some extent of their income during their season, in terms of weekly income the produces in decreasing order are - Seethaphal, Ramphal, Kakkuthikayulu, Gum Karaya, and Hill Brooms. The penetration of GCC in the produces over which it has monopoly is similar to the previous village and better then villages in East Godavari.

Central West AP

Mahabubnagar district

The study villages in the district are located in Rajiv Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary and Nargarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR). The NSTR is spread out in 4500 Sq KM area. The final notification for the Sanctuary was issued in 1997. But there are certain special rights and privileges provided to the Chenchu community over forest and forest products, at the time of settlements of reserved forests and it continues to be practised. The forests in the region are dry deciduous. Teak, the major specie is dwindling. Apart from major timber trees, there are about 120 species of plants (Kovel Foundation, 2002) distributed in this area.

Rayaletipenta

Rayaletipenta is situated in Vatevaripalli Panchayat of Amrabad Mandal in Mahbubnagar district. It is about 2 km walk between Mananur and Vatevaripalli on Hyderabad - Srisailam road. The nearest big market place are Padira and Achampet. The village is surrounded by thick forest from all the sides. The village is a all tribal one resided by 11 Chenchu families. There are sixteen NTFP collectors in the village, of which six are women. The total agriculture land in the village is approximately 14 acres that grow Jowar, Green Gram and Custard. The average income from agriculture is about two thousand rupees during a good rainy season.

NTFP Collected by the Chenchus of Rayaletipenta - Tapsi Gum, Broom sticks, Musti Ginjalu, Budipala Gaddalu, Beedi Leaf, Honey, Ippa Flower and Seed, Morli, Saraswathi, Eagi, Karivepaku, Sarpagandhi, Chenchu gadalu, Usiri, Green Grass, Bamboo, Podaparthi, Maredu, Billa Ganneru, Kalabanda, Kraka, Aswagandha.

Of the twenty-four NTFP collected, nine forms the major revenue providers (see Table 2). This includes the nationalized product beedi leaf, which earns about fifteen thousand rupees per family for a period of one month. Whereas the other forest products like usiri, kalabanda, sarpagandhi, karivepaku, bamboo basket, billa ganeru, saraswathi aku, aswagandha, and adavi nabhi are collected in a week time. The collection of these items is low due to distorted market, low availability and long distances and legal restrictions.

Bamboo, another nationalized product is also a wide spread. But harvesting of bamboo is banned. The restriction is due to the legal status of the forest (Wild life Sanctuary and direction of the Supreme Court). The AP FD represented to the apex court and got sanction for collection of beedi leaf only in the year 1998. Though medicinal plants in this region are widely distributed, the marketing opportunities are limited. The reasons are low procurement by GCC and not a high priority for traders.

The table below provides the income realized by the Chenchu tribes from the nine major NTFP items. Beedi leaf is the most important item among all the forest produces available in the region that contributes substantially to the income of the whole village. The other important produces are - Musti Ginjalu, Broom Sticks and Tapsi Gum. Apart from FD that procures Beedi Leaf, all other produces are sold at GCC stores. Some of the produces are sold to the private traders also. This year the village SHG has got together to collect one forest produce i.e. Broom stick and try to market it themselves with help of an NGO.

The nearest GPCMS depot is 6 km away from the village at Vattavarlapally. The gums are sold to GPCMS as the produce has a very limited market outside. The personnel at the depot make the grading and more often the collectors are paid the second grade price for the product. According to collectors, there is usually a 10% reduction in weight at GCC depot then when weighed in the village.

However most of the other produces find an alternative market in the form of private traders. Though the prices may be higher or lower then the GCC prices, primary collectors have other reasons to sell it to the traders - advance loans being the prominent the causes. The traders take the produces from the doorstep of the villagers. The GCC depots also open for a limited time in a week. The traders prefer the produces that have a ready made market outside - Mahua, Honey and Broom sticks. In case of Broomsticks it has been seen that gatherers get more price in the shandies then they would have got from GCC. The traders at Vattavarlapally, Mannanur, Srisailam, Sunnipenta, Achampet, and Domalapenta are the ones who buy produces in this region.

This village being part of NSTR, Chenchus enjoy special rights as per a notification in 1932, whereby they are able to collect NTFP. Similarly, the FD got a special permission from the Supreme Court to collect BL from the region as no collection could be allowed when it was declared as a Tiger Reserve.

Kudichintalabailu & Sarlapalli

Kudichinthalabailu is located in Amrabad mandal of Mahabubnagar district of AP. The hamlet is heterogeneous with majority of the households belonging to Chenchus tribe. Total number of families is 30 with a population of 200. Of this 20 belong to Chenchu community and remaining 10 to BC Community. The villagers have agriculture lands and average land holding is 3 acres per family. The Chenchu families collect most of the forest products. One family in the village undertakes local trade of NTFP. The second village is Sarlapally in the same Mandal and district that has 500 families with 2000 population. Out of this 53 belonging to Chenchu community with a population of 200 are staying in a hamlet.

In both the villages Chenchus are main collectors of NTFP and some BC families also are involved in collection of NTFP. The major produces are honey and broom sticks. Usually the lower income group families collect NTFP in agricultural lean seasons and drought years. NTFP collection largely is a non-remunerative activity and is a supplementary income to most in these villages except the Chenchu Community.

The following table gives the consolidated figures of income of a HH from NTFP. As can be observed, an average HH earns about Rs. 6000 from NTFP, out of which Tapasi and Kondagogu Gum and Budipalagailu account for 50%. This income is apart from the returns that they have from Beedi Leaf that could not be covered in the study.

Traders in both the villages run provisional stores that provide gatherers with essential commodities in lieu of forest produces sold. All non-reserved NTFP having a demand go through this channel. In addition many reserved and monopoly items also enter this channel illegally. The players of NTFP market include collectors, local collection agents and a number of wholesalers and retailers at local, regional and national level. The collectors otherwise have to sell NTFP to GCC for exchange of essential commodities or cash. The nearest GCC depot is at a distance of 8 km from the village. Because of this collectors prefer to sell it to the trader who stays in the village. People also complain that the operation of GCC store is not regular. This gives an opportunity to the private local traders to establish their trade. They also give petty loans and provide essential commodities to the collectors on credit. GCC also fails to reach the targets of demand from the collectors. This in turn affects the tribals. The traders also give money to the collectors for illicit liquor. This makes one to understand the alibis shown to the collector to sell his good. The private traders with a very small investment started petty provisional stores in the hamlet that have minimum basic infrastructure facilities. These traders are migrants from nearby towns of Mannanur, Achampet and Mahabubnagar. They have settled 8 to 10 years back in the hamlets. They belong to backward class and are non-tribals.

South AP

Cuddapah district

Sainagar

Cuddapah is located in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh. It falls in Rayalaseema region of the state. The district has distinction of being home to red sanders, a highly threatened species. Sainagar is situated in Kanapalli panchayat and Chintakammadinne mandal. Total numbers of families in the village are 26, all belonging to Yanadhi tribe and landless. The primary occupation of Yanadhis is collection of forest products. In the year 1996, Vana Samrakshana Samathi (VSS) was formed. Through VSS, activities related to soil moisture conservation, plantation and village development were under taken. Due to protection and restriction on fuel wood smuggling and controlling forest fires, regeneration helped growth of the forest.

The details of NTFP collection profile is given the (Annexure-3). Thirty-one minor forest products are collected by Yanadhis in this area. Tapping of gum is one of the major activities and income realised from sale of gum maximum. The gum is extracted from different five species. Of this the commercial value of gum collected from Tapsi is highest. This is available through out the year. But tapping is mostly distributed from August - March. The availability of gum during summer is low and during monsoon it is avoided due to rains and competition from wild animals, which consume gum oozing out of the tree wound. At an average the number of days spent by the collectors for tapping gum is about seventy days. For tapping, a semi circular cut is made on bark of the tree. Generally tapping is carried out from trees over twelve years old. The gum collected is dried over plastic covers. Then it is carried to the GCC depot at Guvalacheruvu on other side of the hill ranges at a distance of 20 Kms.

Maredu Gaddalu is the 2nd most important item in the village. Maredu Gaddalu is collected from the climber Aegle marmelos. It is cut into smaller pieces and dried in sun for over a day. Then it is marketed to GCC as well as to traders. The traders are form Rayachoti. There are about seven private traders involved in this business. The price provided by traders ranged between Rs. 15 - 25 per kg. The traders in turn sell this at Chittor and/or Tirupathi at a price four to five times higher. The storage by the traders is done at Rayachoti it self. Most of this trade is carried on with neither licensing nor legal registration.

Nanari Gaddalu is very specific and unique to this place. This is a root. It is extracted and the four roots are separated and sold. This is used to prepare local soft drink called nanari. It gives relief from tiredness and heat. This is mainly sold to traders.

The other major NTFP sold to the traders are thatch grass, palagaddalu, sarapapu, karakai, bodha, usiri, tamarind, soap nut, eetha fruits, guthi fruits, Chella ginjalu, and musthi ginjalu. The middlemen pay advances for collecting high value items like palagaddalu, maredu gaddallu, musthi ginjalu to the collectors and repay the rest after the produce is handed over to them. The middlemen have linkages with traders as far as in the Kerela and Tamil Nadu for selling these plants.

In this village where NTFP play a crucial role in the livelihoods of the Yanadhi community - of the total income in a family, NTFP contribute about 80%. Five out of the twenty-six families are completely dependent on NTFP collection. The maximum annual income form the NTFP is Rs. 77,000 and minimum is Rs. 1830. The wide variation is explained by the fact of number of eligible members a family has for collecting NTFP. The person who earns the minimum is an old widowed lady, who still engages in NTFP collection.

Chitoor district

Gopalapuram

Gopalapuram is a hamlet habituated by Yanadhi community. Yanadhis are primitive tribe and are cattle rearers and food gatherers. Twenty years back in an outbreak of fight in the village of Pagadala, Sri Chinna Bathala left and settled in this place. Gradually the number of families in the village increased to fifteen over a decade with a population of about sixty. This village now falls under Poshamvari palli panchayat in Pulicherla mandal of Chittoor district. It is adjacent to the Nagapatla reserve forests of Bhakrapeta range. There are no pucca houses in the village though house pattas are provided. A Vana Sanrakhyana Samiti has been is formed in the year 1999.

Main occupation of the village is collection and sale of forest products. Apart from NTFP, the secondary source of income is wage labour. The average income from sale of NTFP is about 87% and remaining 13% is from the wages. Annual average income per household is about Rs 10300 per family per annum for NTFP and Rs 1350 through wages. The number of days spent in collection of various forest products ranges from a minimum of 25 days to maximum of 200 days. The time spent for processing, grading and storing varies from 20 - 40 days. The collection of the products is always carried out in groups, generally belonging to the same family.

The families do not have any agricultural land. Tapping of gum is an important economic activity. As per villagers, there are about 3000 gum trees that they have distributed among themselves. The sale of items like gum, broomstick, Soapnut, roots, and tubers are carried on weekly basis. But beedi leaf, thada akulu, amla is sold the very or the next day. The forest products collected are sold to the GCC depot at Pakala, which is about twenty-five kilometres from the village. The external trade of NTFP to middlemen and outsiders is low and negligible.

From the above table it is clear that every collector is realising about Rs 8500 from products of gum and maredu gaddalu. This makes about 80% of the income realized from NTFP collected. Generally multiple collections of products are carried out. A regular and systematic collection is carried out only with respect to gum. Time spent for collection of many products is less than three days except that of of gum, beedi leaf, broomsticks and honey.
Beedi leaf is contracted and the collectors get only the wage. The villagers complain that the contractor often bring people from out side and carry out collection. Though VSS is functioning since 1999, the share on beedi leaf as per the orders issued by the AP Forest Department in the year 1996 and 2002, it is not realized. The reasons quoted are due to the low quality of leaf as compared to northern Telengana districts.

The gatherers of the region also take care while extracting forest produces. This is proved by the following actions -

• During extraction of gum, the tapers disperse insecticide to the extracted portion to restrict the damage caused by termites to the tree trunk. Trees below four years are not counted for extraction. Added to this during the extraction season, manual protection is also done.
• During extraction of maredu tubers, at least two main root systems are left out during cutting of the climber.
• During Soapnut collection care is taken not to make branches cut off or broken.
• In case of musthi seeds only ripe and to a large extent fallen seeds are only collected. Lopping or cutting of branches is a rare feature in this area.

Trade channels of some NTFP

Budipalagada

The root of Budipala is available throughout the year and the collection is spread out according to demand. The best quality roots are available during rainy season. The species is mostly found in rocky areas. The retailer gives an advance of Rs. 400/- to the collectors. Men and women go in groups for collection. A group usually comprises of 3-4 members. The process of collection involves digging up of roots up to four meters underneath the climber by plucking the root. The root is 2 meters long. Each group collects around 4-5 roots per week.

They are shared among the group and usually each household gets approximately 2 kg's of roots. The root is cut into 20 thin pieces. Then, it is stored in a woven /small basket for a night. The next day it is dried in open sun at their houses. The roots are dried for a week before it is sold. It is sold to the trader who stays in the village (retailer) at the rate of Rs 10-15 per Kg. The rate in the open market is Rs 18-20. The trader from the village also collects the roots in about five neighbouring villages. The total gathered stock is packed in gunny bags to sells it the open market. For transportation to open market the local trader gets help of the forest guards at forest check post in Mannanur. This costs about Rs. 10/- per bag. This product has high demand in the open market. The collectors sell the surplus to the GCC depot for Rs.17/- per kg. GCC sends it to the government godowns.

Broomstick

Broom grass is available within a radius of 2 kms from the village and found abundantly. Collection is carried out from November to January (After Diwali festival till Sankranthi). The local trader provides an advances to the collectors to the tune of two hundred rupees. The process of collection involves going in a group comprising of women (3-4 members). The upper part of the grass is cut and gathered. This is then bound into bundles of tens. About twenty big bundles are made in a day. At the village the bundles is cleared of all thorns by beating to ground and chopped. Each collector makes around 15 to 20 broomsticks. It is tagged with the rope made out of Neem bark. It is dried in front of their houses for a day. It is followed with thrashing of brooms to clear the thorns. This process takes about four hours. After this again the bundles are dried for four days. After this process the broomsticks are ready for sale.

The stick are sold initially to the village trader equivalent to the advance amount taken and the rest is sold at the cost of Rs. 3/-for each broomstick to the consequent trader who hails from Mannaur or Achampet. He sells this to the wholesaler / trader at Achampet mandal at Rs 5/- per broomstick. The local trader in a year sells about 15000 broomsticks. The local trader after getting it from the collector again trims the size of the broom. It is later sold to trader outside the village who hails from Achampet. The Achampet trader sells to local shops at the cost of Rs. 8 per broomstick. The consumer buys the broom at the cost of Rs. 10/- to 12/- per broom. Mostly this is used for domestic market and not export. This item is usually not sold to GCC as they pay less then the local village trader or if it is sold outside door -door in the adjacent villages. They sell it at the cost of Rs. 5/- per broomstick.

Chironji

Chironji locally known as morli pallukulu is found at fringe of the forest areas. It is available in the months of April- June. Both men and women are involved in collecting the fruits. The collected seeds are broken and the kernel in the seed is collected and sold. Women do the process of breaking the seed cover. This takes ample time and precaution has to be taken for careful extraction of kernel. The damaged kernel fetches less price. The damaged kernel is purchased by GCC at the cost of Rs. 16 per Kg. In open market the quality kernels are sold at a price of Rs 120 per kg, where as GCC pays Rs. 70/- per kg. So, mostly collectors prefer to sell it to the local trader (villager) who buys for Rs. 40/- to 50/- per half kg and in turn sells to the intermediary trader for Rs. 50/- to 60/- per half kg. The trader in turn sells in the open market for Rs. 60/- to 70/- per half kg. The intermediary trader hails from Mannanur. The Mannanur trader sells it to the traders in Achampet and Mahaboobnagar. The product is both used for domestic and export markets.

Honey

Honey is another item that has great demand in the market. It is collected in the months of April to June. Usually men do the collection. From the combs the honey is poured into bottles, which is brought to the house and stored in an airtight bag. After a day it is boiled and filtered. The filtered honey is then sold. Only ten families are involved in collection from two villages. The village trader purchases for Rs. 60/- per 1 kg bottle. It is sold to the outside village trader for Rs. 70/-per bottle who hails from Mannanur. This is in turn is sold at retail / wholesale at Achampet market for Rs 80 per Kg. Some times the Mannanur trader sells the product in Hyderabad at the costs of Rs. 100/- per kg.

Achampet and Lingam Mandal

SERP had constituted a detailed study with regard to NTFP collection and trade practices in Achampet and Lingam Mandals of Mahabubnagar district in 2002. Kovel Foundation, Visakhapatnam, carried out the study. It has come out with certain interesting findings that are very relevant on the subject. All the statistics exclude Beedi Leaf.

The study covered 959 families of the Chenchu tribe spread over 50 villages. out of all the chenchu families covered, 430 families (45%) are dependent on NTFP for some portion of their earnings. Nearly 84% of these 430 families derived 30% or more of their annual earning from NTFP, 10% between 15 - 30% and rest derived less then 15%. Overall, 80% of the income of these 430 families came from NTFP. These NTFP dependent families remain engaged in NTFP collection and processing activities ranging from 90- 180 days. Of the total 36 NTFP identified, 12 were purchased by GCC, 12 by the traders and there were 19 items that did not find any buyers in the region. (there were items that were purchased by GCC and Traders both)

None of the family collecting NTFP had NTFP ID cards and less then 30% members were members of GPCMS. Most of the others were not even aware of GPCMS membership. Though more then 50% of the families were engaged in collection of gums that formed the most important NTFP in the region, only 7% had Giri Cards. NTFP purchasing entries were not made in most of the Giri Cards. Of the total gum procured by GCC, 12.5% were of Grade 1 variety, 40% grade 2 and the rest grade 3.

Harvesting practices of the major NTFP were also studied. Most of the harvesting practices of NTFP are unscientific and are leading to depletion of NTFP resources. Now the community members have to travel a long distance for getting NTFP that they used to get in the immediate vicinity of the village. This has also resulted in increased migration. What is of concern much more is that GCC is not doing anything noticeable for protection and regeneration of NTFP.

Some of the unscientific harvesting practices are -

• Cutting of branches and trees/ climbers for collection of fruits, leaves and bark
• Immature collection of fruits
• Collection of fruits by picking from the ground
• Collected fruits are laid on black top road for drying and/ or removal of pulp to get seed. Or the fruits are kept in a bamboo basket and then crushed with legs so as to get out pulp followed by thorough washing in the running water.
• The fruits/ seeds are dried on the ground/ road/ cots/ winnowing basket etc.
• The produces are stored in the gunny bags without proper drying.
• The tubers/ roots are collected without leaving anything in the soil.

GCC being a key element in the procurement and trade of forest produces, its operations was looked into and the following concerns emerged -

• The purchasing points / shandy points are not convenient for the collectors as the presence of sales man and timings of the depots are not as per the formers' requirement
• Neither GCC staff have any rapport with the community and nor any community mobilisation effort is made for the same.
• Lack of co-ordination between FD and GCC on forest produces for NTFP collection and the NTFP collectors suffer for the same.
• Awareness activities of GCC, if any are concentrated around Gums, thereby no concerted protection, regeneration or quality improvement activities are undertaken in other produces.
• The collectors