A price dissemination system to help farmer and tribal to watch the market prices of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)in India

Non-Timber Forest Products play a very important role in the rural economy of our country. They include a host a medicinal plants that are used by the industry in formulations of medicines and health formulations like Chyavanprash. Most of such products are collected by the tribal and villagers residing in and around the forests. Apart from retaining a part for their own use, a significant quantum of the produce collected is sold in local market, mandis, mostly for a pittance to the middlemen who sell them at a premium to the industry. In this trade, it is generally felt that the primary collector is not rewarded suitably for his enterprise.

Although the market prices of the NTFPs are available from a host of sources, a single portal providing the information is not available. ICFRE has initiated a programme to develop such a system where market prices of selected Non-Timber Forest Products are available on its website for general information to the public. We are aware that the primary collectors may not have access to the type of communication essential for accessing this system. The system is aimed at providing information to the NGOs, departments and other organizations working with the forest villagers and tribal community so that the implementation of programmes pertaining to this aspect becomes more meaningful.

This is the first hosting of the prices collected from various sources like markets, websites and telephonic conversations. As a start, 20 commercially important non-nationalized have been listed and it is endeavored that the list will expand to include more and more species as the survey progresses. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Development Objective

Development of a Price Dissemination System in respect of trade in NWFPs with an aim to prevent economic losses to the primary collector and cultivator by possible reduction in the middleman interface.
Specific Objectives

  • Development of a market price monitoring system of non-nationalized NWFPs traded on a commercial scale.
  • Development of a compendium of utilization of non-nationalized NWFPs traded on a commercial scale.
  • Development of an interface of price dissemination on the web portal of ICFRE and strategize the dissemination to the end-users.
Markets covered in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
  1. Katni
  2. Mansa
  3. Betul
  4. Jagdalpur

Information collected during the first round of survey

All India Indicative Market Prices

S. No Scientific name Common Name Distribution Part used Industrial uses Indicative market price
1. Andrographis paniculata Kalmegh Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh Fruit, Leaves, Bark, Seeds Pharmaceutical Industry Rs.18-28/kg (Whole plant)
2. Aegle marmelos Bel Throughout India Fruits, Leaves, Bark, Seeds Pharmaceutical Industry, Aroma Chemical Industry , Food Industry, Cosmetic Industry , Timber Industry, Dye Industry and Gum Industry Rs. 12-15 /kg (Fruit pulp) Rs. 21/kg (Bel chhal) Rs. 125/ kg (Fruit)
3. Aconitum heterophyllum Atees Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir Roots, Leaves Pharmaceutical Industry and Ayurveda Rs. 2550/kg (Rhizome)
4. Buchanania lanzan Chironji Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat, Karnataka, New Delhi Stem, Bark, Seeds Match box Industry, Food Industry, Tanin Industry and Ayurveda Rs. 400/kg (Fruit Kernel)
5. Azadirachta indica Neem Throughout India Seeds, Leaves, Bark, Fruits, Flowers Agro Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry, Cosmetic Industry and Ayurveda Rs. 0.50 to Rs. 1.50/kg (Fruit); Rs.2/- to Rs. 2.50/kg (Seed) ; Rs. 45/kg (Neem cake)
6. Chlorophytum borivilianum Safed Musli Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu Roots, Seeds Pharmaceutical Industry, Nutraceutical Companies, Unani Therapy , Cosmetic Industry, Detergent Industry, Dye Industry and Paint Industry Rs. 1300/kg (Dry Roots)
7. Emblica officinalis Aonla Throughout India Fruit, Seeds Food Industry, Ayurveda, Pharmaceutical Industry, Fruit Preservation Industry, Cosmetic Industry Rs. 62/kg (Fruit)
8. Hippophae salicifolia Kalabis, hippophae Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir Leaves, fruits Food Industry, Liquor Industry and Cosmetics Industry -
9. Sapindus mukorossi Reetha Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal Fruit, Seed Ayurveda, Cosmetic and Soap Industry Rs. 500/kg
10. Madhuca indica Mahua Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu Flower, Seeds, Leaves Liquor Industry, Drug Industry, Cosmetic and Soap Industry Rs. 18/kg
11. Rauwolfia serpentina Sarpgandha Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh Roots Pharmaceutical Industry, Ayurveda, Unani Therapy, Cosmetic Industry Rs. 300/kg (Seed)
12. Asparagus racemosus Satawar Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh Root, Leaves Pharmaceutical Industry and Ayurveda Rs. 81/kg (Roots)
13. Strychnos nux-vomica Kuchla Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh Seeds, Bark, Roots Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Pharmaceutical Industry Rs. 28-35/ kg (Seeds)
14. Tamarindus indica Tamarind, imli Throughout India Fruit, Leaves, Flower, Seeds Pharmaceutical Industry, Food Industry, Carpentry, Tannin Industry and Dye Industry Rs. 45-50/ kg
15. Terminalia bellirica Bahera Throughout India Fruit Ayurveda, Tannin Industry, Cosmetic Industry and Dye Industry Rs. 25/kg (Fruit) Rs. 100/kg (Seed)
16. Terminalia chebula Harad Throughout India Fruit, Roots, Bark Tanin Industry, Dye Industry and Ayurveda Rs. 80/kg (Seed) Rs. 31/kg (Chhilka)
17. Withania somnifera Ashwagandha Gujrat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan Root, Leaves Ayurveda and Cosmetic Industry Rs. 115/kg (Roots)
18. Cymbopogon martinii Lemon grass, Palmarosa Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh Leaves Ayurveda, Perfume Industry, Cosmetic and Soap Industry Rs. 0.75/Slip
19. Bixa orellana Sinduri Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal - Dye Industry, Food Industry, Cosmetic Industry and Ayurveda -
20. Swertia chirata Chirayita Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir Whole plant Pharmaceutical Industry, Liquor Industry and Ayurveda Rs. 285/kg (Plant)



Market Prices in selected markets of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
S. No Name of NTFP species Market prices in Rs./kg (Madhya Pradesh) Market prices in Rs./kg (Chhatisgarh)
1. Mahua flower ( Madhuca latifolia 16-18 15-17
Mahua seeds ( Madhuca latifolia) 18-20 18-20
2. Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) 625-660/Bag 625-650/Bag
(50,000 leaves/Bag) (50,000 leaves/ Bag)
3. Chironji (Buchnania lanzan) 1000-1300 1100-1300
4. Harra (Terminalia chebula) 35-45 35-45
5. Aonla (Dry) (Embelica officinalis) 38-40 38-40
6. Baheda Dry Fruit (Terminalia bellirica)
7. Beal Giri (Aegle marmelos) 20-28 20-25
8. Dhawai Flower (New) (Woodfordia fruticosa) 15-18 15-17
Dhawai Flower (Old) (Woodfordia fruticosa) 20-25 20-24
9. Kullu gum (Sterculia urens)
Katira 350-375 350-380
White 400-420 400-420
Laddu 250-280 250-280
10. Salai resin Gond (Boswellia Serrata) 110-114 120-125
11. Mahul Patta ( Madhuca latifolia) 6-8/Kg 8-10
12. Sal Seed (Shorea robusta) 5-6 5-6.50
13. Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) 30-32 30-35
14. Bhilawa (Semecarpus anacardium ) 15-20 15-18
15. Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus) 17-20 18-22
16. Shatawar (Asparagus racemosus) 75-80 80-85
17. Tikhur (Curcuma angustifolia) 55-60 60-65
18. Gurmar (Gymnema Sylvestre) 50-60 55-65
19. Sitaphal (Annona squamosa) 12-15 10-15
20. Lac (Laccifer lacca) 70-120 70-150
21. Hill broom 35-40 40-50
22. Honey 75-85 70-75
23. Imli (Tamaridus indica)
With seed 30-35 32-35
Without seed 65-70 62-65