Forest Department To Collect Beedi Leaves Through Vana Samrakshana Samitis
The collection of bidi leaves, considered a minor forest produce, starts before the Karif season. Villagers take part in the collection in their respective areas: Reports
ADILABAD: The forest department would allocate the job of bidi or tendu leaf collection to the local vana samrakshana samitis (VSS) to provide them with seasonal employment during the season in the identified places in the Adilabad district. The collected bidi leaves will be sold to manufacturers.
The collection of bidi leaves, considered a minor forest produce, starts before the Karif season. Villagers take part in the collection in their respective areas. Pruning is done in March, and fresh leaves sprout in April, and a sizable leaf will grow by May.
The forest department plans to activate defunct VSS and engage them in the protection of the forest and preventing land encroachment by the wood smugglers and podu land cultivators.
It was stated that each family of four members may earn up to `30,000 through bidi leaf collection for 20 days in addition to a bonus of `5,000-10,000 for the tendu leaves.
Adilabad DFO Prashant Bajirao Patil said contractors were showing no interest in auctions for the bidi leaf units in Ichoda, Bajarhathnoor, Bela and Sathnala forest ranges for the last three years. Their interest was focused on Sirichelma, Bheersaipet and Kosai in the Adilabad forest range.
He said contractors were not spending money on pruning of ‘tendu’ trees. Because of this, the leaves were smaller. This was also discouraging bidders at auctions.
“Adivais are losing their traditional seasonal income through bidi leaf collection,” DFO Patil noted. Officials had hence turned to reviving the local VSSes. Bidi leaf bundles are sold at `3.2 each, and collectors get a bonus later on the sale of the tendu leaves. He said the Adivasis were selling the collected bidi leaves in the black market as contractors were not coming forward.
