Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) is the major source of income in tribal-dominated areas. NTFPs contribute about 20% to 40% to the annual income of tribal people who are socially and economically deprived and having very less landholding. The majority of these NTFPs are collected and sold by women (Planning Commission, 2011).

The District of Mandla in Madhya Pardesh is naturally rich in forests and plays a central role in socio-economic and socio-political systems.  Sal (Shorea robusta), one of the major Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) apart from Aonla and others which plays an important role in supporting rural livelihoods and help in securing local food security of tribal people. This year, Sal (Shorea robusta) trees have yielded seeds in abundance, promising good returns for the smallholder, which is considered as one of their key alternative livelihood incomes.

The COVID-19 lockdown has made smallholders more vulnerable. They neither able to buy Agri-inputs nor sell their surplus produces due to the restrictions. The unavailability of local transportations facilities in the remotest areas is also one of the major concerns for smallholder to access the local market. Considering the situation, Smallholder Adaptive Farming and Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) has initiated a preliminary discussion with the existing smallholder farmers’ collective (SHFC) to find out a localised solution best suited to their context and convenient. Further to this, SHFC discussed and mutually agreed to collectivise produces. A total of 450 quintals of Sal seed were collected by the smallholders from 10 villages which were aggregated further and brought to the nearby local market called Pandu Talab. SHFC from the respective villages played a key role in consultation with the SAFBIN district team to collectivise and ensure it at the local market with safety ad security. It was the first time ever that, the community took an collectively effort to ensure their produces reach market and they sold at Rs.20.00 rupees per Kilogram.

With this initiative, in the first instance, 33 smallholders have sold 37 quintals of non-timber forest produce (Sal Seeds) apart from cereal, pulses and oilseeds @ Rs. 20.00 rupees per kilogram which were earlier used to get Rs. 10.00 rupees per Kgs.

It was interesting to see the mutual efforts among the smallholders in a way for the first time in our village. Some took the responsibilities to ensure vehicle for transportation, others contributed in loading and unloading, and rest in negotiating price with the vendors. “I also sold 1.5kgs Sal Seeds and got a good rate. Thanks to SAFBIN and JDSSS team for helping to share our loads collectively to gain more benefits”, expressed Lal Singh, a smallholder of Baigakheda shared delightedly.

“Now, I am confident enough to negotiate the rate for my products with the vendors. It was never like before. Being a tribal and from the remotest village, we are shy by nature and not do vocal and many times, we were being cheated. But Thanks to SAFBIN, Caritas India and JDSSS for making us more accountable towards our own products and resources. With this initiative we are able to sell directly avoiding all middle man involvement and gain 49% extra money”,  said Raman Singh another smallholder of Baigakheda shared.

Sal forest is spread across 10 million ha in India. In Madhya Pradesh, sal trees account for 16 per cent of the forest area. The Sal tree, Shorea robusta, is an evergreen species native to India. Sal seeds are an important non-timber forest product and source of income for about 90,000 forest fringe villages with a combined population of 56 million. The Sal seed is prized mainly for its oil, which has significant potential for export markets due to its low price. During the months of May and June, many rural people in central, eastern and northern India collect the seeds in order to supplement their incomes until the agricultural season begins.