Paper Details

The price spread study of Chironji kernel in the state of Jharkhand brings out important features of marketing of the forest produce. There were five marketing channels. The primary suppliers selling through channels I and II received less than 15% of the share in the consumer’s price while the share of retailers was nearly 49%. The primary suppliers having access to channels III and IV that enabled them to sell processed produce obtained a higher share of about 25%. The channel V, which was the most efficient resulted in highest share of 40% for the primary supplier as well as the least cost for the users. The number of market functionaries in this channel were the least and the primary suppliers sold the seeds directly to the processing unit located in their vicinity. At present most of the Chironji collected is sent to neighbouring states for processing. The promotion of primary processing as well as value addition of NTFPs in the state has immense scope for employment generation, poverty alleviation, and conservation of bio diversity.

NTFPS, Chironji, Price Spread, Market channels, market efficiencies