Adivasi Economies
The Forest Economy: Tendu, Mahua and More
How millions of tribal families earn from collecting forest products like tendu leaves, mahua flowers and sal seeds, and why they often get low prices.
Forests are central to many tribal livelihoods.
Minor forest produce
Minor forest produce (MFP), or non-timber forest products, include:
- Tendu leaves: used to roll beedis.
- Mahua flowers: used for food, liquor and oil.
- Sal seeds and sal leaves (used for plates).
- Honey, lac, tamarind and medicinal herbs.
- Bamboo.
Importance
Millions of forest dwellers depend on MFP for a significant share of cash income, especially in the lean season before harvest.
Low prices
- Middlemen and traders often pay low prices.
- Collectors lack storage and must sell quickly.
- Little processing is done locally, so value goes elsewhere.
State monopolies
Some states run nationalised trade in tendu leaves, paying collectors per bundle and sharing profits.
Women’s work
Women do much of the collection, making MFP important for their income.
In May, a family in Chhattisgarh collects tendu leaves at dawn, ties them in bundles and sells them at a collection centre, earning cash to last until the monsoon crop.
Non-timber products support millions of livelihoods.
- Minor forest produce includes tendu, mahua, sal, honey and bamboo.
- It provides cash income, especially in the lean season.
- Middlemen and lack of storage lower prices.
- Women do much of the collection.
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