-Livemint.com The production of ‘mahua’ is finally entering the formal economy as new initiatives seek to upscale this indigenous drink, selling it across the country and even the globe It is a cloudy morning in Nangur village in Bastar district, Chattisgarh. It is a settlement of a little over 400 families, considered fairly large in these parts. We make a bumpy journey down a narrow, unpaved road intermittently shaded by sargi (sal)...

-Down to Earth Lack of profitability is one of the reasons cited for the proposal to do away with the scheme A proposal has been sent to the Odisha Chief Minister to do away with the minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFP). Odisha’s SC & ST Development, Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Department has communicated to the Chief Minister’s Office regarding rolling back of the MSP on MFP. ...

-The Times of India BHUBANESWAR: Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram asked chief minister Naveen Patnaik to fix the minimum support price (MSP) of minor forest produce (MFP) gathered by tribals. "I would like Odisha to provide MSP to the tribals at the haats where they bring the forest produce to sell. This will protect them from any possible exploitation by middlemen and traders," said Jual in his letter to Naveen on...

The beautiful artefacts designed by primitive tribal groups of Orissa and dying a slow death are set to get a fresh lease of life, thanks to the state government. It will exclusively market the products made by 13 primitive tribal groups under brand Tribes Orissa. As many as 25 items will be shortlisted from the collection at the museum of SC, ST Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) here. The move...