Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Department of Veterinary Extension, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, JNKVV, Jabalpur (MP)
The significance of minor forest products (MFPs) in the tribal economy in Madhya Pradesh has been studied based on the information collected from 100 tribals of 10 tribal villages in the Dhar district for the year 2004–05 on the quantity of collection of minor forest products, employment status of tribal through minor forest products, and income from minor forest products and crop enterprises. Mahua, chalkoda, harra, baheda, gond, gully are some of the main MFPs found in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. It is found that 424 members of 100 tribal families are engaged in the collection of MFPs. Mahua has been found to provide employment for maximum period (215.43 mandays) in a year, followed by chakoda (60 mandays), gully (35 mandays), gond (15 mandays) and harra (8.75 mandays). Cotton, maize, urad, soybean, jowar and tur are the important kharif crops, and wheat and gram crops are grown during the rabi season in the selected villages of Dhar district. It has been found that almost all the area is unirrigated and the production of all the crops is very low. It has been revealed that on overall basis, MFPs contribute 45.90 per cent to the total income of tribals and crop production a little higher, 54.10 per cent. It has been concluded that minor forest products play an important role in the tribal economy of the Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh.
