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At a time when local economies have been reeling under the lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the tribal communities residing in forests and its fringes in Thiruvananthapuram are a relieved lot.
Embarking on a market intervention initiative to cushion the impacts of the slowdown, the Forest Department has begun to procure forest produces that are collected by the tribespeople of the Agasthyavanam Biological Park (ABP), Neyyar and Peppara forest ranges to be sold to commercial establishments and various collectives. A centralised collection centre has also been operationalised in Kottoor to segregate the agricultural products prior to being transported to various places.
The endeavour has come as a blessing for several families in the region that stared at an uncertain future following the suspension of village markets, particularly in Kottoor which functioned as a local commercial hub in the region.
The ambitious project, titled ‘Vanika’, which was formally launched by Chief Wildlife Warden Surendrakumar a day ago, is being undertaken by procuring the perishables above the prevailing market rates. The products that were on offer during the initial days included various plantain varieties including nendran, rasakadali and chenkadali (‘kappa pazham’ in local parlance), tapioca, long beans, wild honey, wild turmeric, arecanut, Malabar tamarind (‘kudampuli’), cashew nuts and coconut. The products are being marketed through a WhatsApp group that included entrepreneurs, social activists as well as techies’ collectives who can place bulk orders online.
Buoyed by the initial response, the department is toying with the idea of extending the scheme to other tribal regions in the State. “The model could be potentially replicated in other parts, depending on its success in Thiruvananthapuram. While we have envisaged the scheme as one for the lockdown period, the outcome could pave way for a long-term arrangement with an institutional mechanism,” Mr. Surendrakumar said.
According to Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Warden J.R. Ani, forest officers have been entrusted in collecting the products, even from far-flung areas on jeeps and boats. He added that the department also considered procuring rubber sheets from tribespeople to help them sustain their livelihood. Several women from tribal families have also been engaged to prepare face masks in a stitching unit that has been established in Kottoor. Enquiries regarding the products’ sale can be directed to beat forest officer Gopika (8547602958). (EOM)
