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TRIFED’s Tribal Entrepreneurship Drive in Gadchiroli and Melghat

TRIFED’s Tribal Entrepreneurship Drive in Gadchiroli and Melghat
TRIFED’s Tribal Entrepreneurship Drive in Gadchiroli and Melghat

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India was formed in 1987 under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to strengthen the economic position of tribal communities.


Its work focuses on facilitating fair trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP). Recognising the potential of these natural resources, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) in 2018.


This programme aims to support tribal livelihoods through the creation of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), community-managed centres that provide training, processing facilities, and market connections.

Each VDVK typically involves around 300 beneficiaries, grouped into 15 Self-Help Groups (SHG's). These centres receive financial support of ₹15 lakhs for essential infrastructure, tools, and skill-building activities.


The support extends beyond funding. Through schemes like Tech for Tribals, participants receive entrepreneurship training to improve product quality and competitiveness.


The Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism protects gatherers from price fluctuations, offering stable income for key forest products. In addition, concessional finance is available for artisans and SHG's, allowing them to purchase assets or cover working capital needs.


Individual artisans may access up to ₹50,000, while SHGs can receive up to ₹5 lakhs. TRIFED’s approach is designed to strengthen supply chains while reducing the involvement of middlemen, who have traditionally absorbed a large share of profits.


To achieve this, Tribes India outlets and exhibitions like Aadi Mahotsav serve as key platforms for the sale of processed goods. Maharashtra, home to a significant tribal population across its forested districts, has become a focus area for these interventions.


Within the state, Gadchiroli and Melghat stand out as regions where tribal producers are engaging with these opportunities, despite facing a range of operational and geographic challenges.


Economic Participation in Gadchiroli


Gadchiroli district, located in eastern Maharashtra, is defined by dense forests and a sizeable tribal population, primarily consisting of Gond and Madia communities.


Traditional forest gathering has long supported these groups. Under the Van Dhan Yojana, ten VDVK's have been established across the district, covering talukas including Kurkheda, Korchi, and Dhanora.


Around 3,000 tribal gatherers are involved in these centres, which process MFPs like Mahua, Tamarind, and Chironji into market-ready products.

The Shivkrupa VDVK in Chinchewada focuses on processing Mahua flowers into oil and Chironji seeds into extractable kernels. At the Sangam Lok Sanchalit Sadan VDK in Aheri, work revolves around products such as Tamarind paste and Mahua seed oil. These centres enable value addition at the local level, which significantly increases the income earned from forest produce. For example, processed Mahua oil commands higher prices compared to raw Mahua flowers, creating a financial incentive for local producers to engage with the system.


Women’s Self-Help Groups have become central to the production processes in Gadchiroli. One such example involves 200 women collaborating to produce neem-based pesticides, targeting a growing niche market for natural agricultural products.



The contribution of women in these SHGs is supported through training programmes that equip them with the skills needed to process forest products into finished goods. Items such as Mahua laddoos and Myrobalan powder have been developed under these schemes.


The implementation of these initiatives involves coordination between several agencies, including the Department of Tribal Development, Shabari Adivasi Vitta Va Vikas Mahamanadal, and the NGO Amhi Amchya Arogya Sathi. TRIFED handles market linkage efforts, ensuring that the products reach consumers through various outlets and regional fairs.


Gadchiroli’s geographic features add complexity to these efforts. Remote villages and limited road infrastructure create difficulties in transporting goods from production sites to market destinations.

Setting up VDVK's requires time for training and facility development, which sometimes delays the benefits reaching the communities. Despite these operational barriers, the structure of the programme has created pathways for tribal entrepreneurship to grow within the region, with women often playing leading roles in these ventures.



Melghat’s Participation in the Van Dhan Framework


Melghat, situated within the Amravati district, shares a similar profile of forested landscapes and tribal populations, particularly among the Korku and Gond communities. In this region,


TRIFED operates 17 VDVKs, serving approximately 5,100 tribal gatherers.

The centres are located across talukas such as Chikhaldara, Dharani, and Achalpur. Like Gadchiroli, Melghat’s VDVK's focus on adding value to MFP's, including Mahua, Tendu, Neem seeds, and Custard Apple.


The Samrudhhi Vandhan Vikas Kendra in Tembrusondha processes products like Mahua and Tamarind. At VDVK Payvihir in Achalpur, the focus is on Tendu-based goods and Custard Apple products. Various support agencies, including MAVIM, MSRLM, and the NGO KHOJ, work alongside TRIFED and the Department of Tribal Development to ensure these centres function effectively.


Training under the Tech for Tribals initiative plays a significant role in Melghat’s VDVK's. Participants learn techniques to process and package products, improving their appeal in competitive markets.



Melghat’s forest honey has been featured at Dilli Haat’s Aadi Mahotsav, giving producers access to urban consumers and wider market exposure.

Women’s SHG's in Melghat are also active contributors to these enterprises. Their participation supports household incomes and expands the capacity of the local economy. As in Gadchiroli, value addition significantly raises the earnings that tribal communities derive from their traditional gathering activities.


Melghat faces logistical challenges similar to those in Gadchiroli. Poor road connectivity increases the time and cost required to bring products to market.


Additionally, the region has a history of health issues and infrastructure gaps, which complicates the consistent delivery of training and production activities. Sustaining demand for niche products and maintaining steady output remain ongoing priorities in the area.


Building Economic Pathways in Tribal Regions


The initiatives introduced by TRIFED reflect an approach that connects traditional livelihoods with structured enterprise models. By focusing on training, infrastructure, and market access, the Van Dhan Yojana provides a framework for economic participation among tribal communities in regions like Gadchiroli and Melghat.


These efforts engage with the unique conditions of forest-based economies while addressing key obstacles that have limited income generation in these areas.

The role of women’s SHG's, combined with value addition and skill development, contributes to the effectiveness of these programmes. Despite logistical difficulties and remote locations, the centres have enabled tribal gatherers to enter broader markets, reducing dependency on middlemen.


The involvement of government agencies, local NGO's, and cooperative networks ensures that the activities remain aligned with the needs of participants.


These developments mark a shift in how tribal economies interact with formal markets. In Maharashtra’s forested districts, the work of the Van Dhan Kendras continues to shape new possibilities for entrepreneurship, built on the foundations of traditional knowledge and community collaboration.

 

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