World · South & Central Asia · 2 hrs ago
Forest communities in India seek better incomes from non-timber products
Forest communities in India rely on non-timber products such as mahua flowers, tendu leaves and air potatoes for food, medicine and income.
The review looks at these livelihoods in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal’s Sundarbans.
In Gumla, Jharkhand, collector Mamta Tigga says heavy rain cut her mahua harvest this year to about 25 kilograms, far below the usual four to five quintals.
Changing harvests can put household income at risk, especially when families depend on sales to cover shortfalls.
Collectors receive under 20 per cent of the final consumer price, while tendu leaves can rise nearly sixfold in value between collection and retail.
The article describes producer groups and e-TRIFED, an online initiative intended to connect tribal producers directly with buyers and reduce the role of middlemen.
Forest communities in India are seeking better incomes from non-timber forest products such as mahua flowers and tendu leaves.
A review examines the economic, ecological and social importance of these products in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal’s Sundarbans.
Collectors often receive less than 20 per cent of the final consumer price, according to the review’s co-author.
In Gumla, Jharkhand, collector Mamta Tigga gathered about 25 kilograms of mahua this year after excessive rain, compared with her usual 4 to 5 quintals.
Local oversupply can leave weekly incomes from forest produce as low as 200 to 400 rupees, a program director said.
- Who
- Forest-dependent communities and gatherers in India, including Mamta Tigga.
- What
- They are seeking better incomes from non-timber forest products, while a review examines the products’ importance and value chains.
- When
- The article was published on October 20, 2026. Tigga collects mahua flowers between February and May.
- Where
- Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and the Sundarbans mangrove forest in West Bengal.
- Why
- Forest produce supports food, medicine and household income, but collectors capture a small share of the final consumer price.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mamta Tigga has collected mahua flowers, gethi kanda and tendu leaves.
Tigga collects mahua as the flowers fall.
Tigga’s household collected about 25 kilograms of mahua after excessive rain, compared with its usual 4 to 5 quintals.
Eco-Business published its article on forest communities’ livelihoods beyond timber.
- Mahua collection season
- February to May
- Tigga’s village
- Gumla, Jharkhand
- Mahua collected this year
- About 25 kilograms
- Usual mahua collection
- 4 to 5 quintals
- Collectors’ share of final consumer price
- Under 20 per cent
- Local weekly income
- 200 to 400 rupees
What people are saying
There is less mahua than before
The collectors capture under 20 per cent of the final consumer price, with the tendu leaf chain showing almost a 6X value multiplication between collection and retail, most of which never reaches the person who did the actual labor.
NTFPs have always been treated as a footnote to timber forestry
We organize women farmers into self-managed clusters to help them get a fair price for their produce.