Raipur: Buyer-Seller Meet was organized at IIIT Nava Raipur to promote the sale of minor forest produce and herbal products in Chhattisgarh. Buyers from various states of the country participated in this conference organized by Minor Forest Produce Federation. It was inaugurated by the Forest and Climate Change Minister of Chhattisgarh, Hon. Kedar Kashyap ji. In this conference, MOUs worth approximately Rs. 5.00 crore were signed by Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation with a total of 4 renowned institutions of the country and Chhattisgarh state, namely Himalaya Business Institute, Labhbdi Herbal, Chhattisgarh Food Products and Radhika Agro Food Enterprises. Women self-help groups and forest produce collectors of Chhattisgarh state will directly benefit from MOU with these institutions. On this occasion, the Hon. Forest Minister held discussions with self-help groups and forest produce collectors from various districts of Chhattisgarh state. In his address, he gave guidance on how the income of collectors can be increased and how financial help can be provided to forest dwellers. Apart from this, he urged for special efforts for value addition and protection of forests along with collection of forest produce.
An exhibition of 65 species collected under Minor Forest Produce and a stall of forest produce products was set up, which received a very good response. A stall cum sales centre was set up for various types of products made from herbal products like honey, jamun juice, Triphala powder, Chyavanprash, Kodo Kutki and Ragi made under the brand of Chhattisgarh Herbal. In this programme, along with the Honourable Forest Minister, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation, Anil Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer of AIOI, Dr. P.V.S.M. Gauri, Dean of IIIT Raipur, Dr. K.G. Srinivas and Executive Director of Minor Forest Produce Federation, Manivasagan S., Minor Forest Produce expert B. Anand Babu and a large number of buyers, sellers and Minor Forest Produce Federation officers/employees of Chhattisgarh State were present.
