Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: The J&K Forest Contractors & MFP Industrial Association has urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta to provide a special package for the rehabilitation of this trade and industry.
In a meeting of the Association held here under the leadership of Sanjay Gupta, its president the other day, the members discussed the burning issues of the Forest contractors and members connected with the MFP Industry. The JKFCA appreciated the role adopted by the department by PCCF J&K in creating awareness of forest produce regulations to the Panchayat system and Forest Act to sustain the development in NTMEF in J&K and involving the stake holders.
They said there was ban in the past on the Forest produce and the trade was badly hit. Now since the ban has been lifted by the UT Government, it is hoped that trade will flourish with regard to extraction of MFP, collection and cultivation of minor forest produce/ medicinal plants.
They said the matter was also discussed with the PCCF and Commissioner/ Secretary Forest recently to provide arrangement for industries / aggregator to sustain on the herbs for value addition and further resale it outside J&K to realize the economy of the rural segment. The J&K has great potential of medicinal plants and herbs and it can provide means of livelihood to the rural poor and specially the tribals.
The Association urged the LG’s administration to support the people connected with this industry and encourage those associated with herbs processing in their existing units to flourish this trade and properly rehabilitate them. It will also provide jobs to the rural poor, the Association said.
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