International marketing of sabai grass in rural-economic development of tribals: a case study - Mayurbhanj district of Orissa (India)

In a country like India, about 80 percent of the population living in rural area and around 70 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture. Mayurbhanj is one of the richest districts in Orissa so far as forest and mineral wealth are concerned. Sabai grass industry plays a predominant role in shaping the economic destiny of the rural people in the district. The objective of this paper is to(i) review the present growth of Sabai grass industry scenario of Orissa in comparison to other states in India; (ii) find out the innovative marketing schemes and analyse the role of Sabai grass industry for the rural economic developments of the Mayurbhanj district; (iii) examine the various State Government plans, programmes and their implementation in the agricultural development; (iv) identify various international and domestic marketing problems faced by the Sabai grass industries and to suggest suitable measures for solving them; (v) explore the involvement of existing agencies (NGO, Bank and Co-operative Society) for development by the way of education, training and their support in financing for Improving the Sabai grass products and processes. Results show that the tribal of Mayurbhanj district generates the Sabai grass product marketing demandin national and international market so as to develop their rural economic status.