The Manendragarh Forest Circle in Chhattisgarh on Thursday registered a collection of 503.65 quintals of food-grade Mahua against a total of 694.94 quintals in 2023-24.
The Forest and Climate Change Department is ensuring the collection and processing of minor forest produce through forest dwellers, an official communication said.
The Forest Officer of Manendragarh said food-grade Mahua flowers (raw Mahua) were collected through nets under the District Union of Manendragarh’s Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Committee in Bhaunta, Balbehra, Ghutra, Kachaud, Kelhari, Belgaon, Junanwa and Madisarai.
The collectors gathered 503.65 quintals of raw Mahua flowers at a rate of Rs. 10 per kg. The flowers were dried with the help of a solar dryer. The collectors were paid Rs. 5.3 lakh as wages, he said.
He added that solar drying 5 kg of food-grade Mahua generates 1 kg of dried Mahua flowers. The market price of dried Mahua is Rs 50 per kg.
