Minor Forest Produce:
Tribal people in Odisha are struggling for approvals from the forest department to sell Kendu leaf which is a minor forest produce
- The Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, or Forest Rights Act (FRA), defines ‘minor forest produce’ as any non-timber forest product of plant origin.
- This includes various items such as bamboo, brush wood, stumps, cane, tussar, cocoons, honey, wax, lac, kendu leaves, medicinal plants, herbs, roots, tubers and similar items.
- In simple terms, it encompasses all other forest products, excluding timber.
- Kendu Leaf is called the green gold of Odisha.
- It is a nationalized product like Bamboo and Sal seed.
- It is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha.
- It is also referred to as tendu leaf in some parts of the country and is used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes).
