Chhattisgarh Forest Department

NWFP Certification

Community controlled resources 

Dr. Sharma elaborated that Chhattisgarh state Forest Department, through people's participation, has been able to convert the Open Access Resources (OARs) to Community Controlled Resources (CCRs), which is being demonstrated in the People's Protected Areas which cover all the 32 forest divisions of the state. He claimed that the enabling forest policies have taken care of the ecological, social and eco-cultural matrix. He said that this can be further achieved to a greater degree with proper entitlement regime. At present, the level of people's awareness regarding their tenurial rights and entitlements are very vague which need to be addressed through greater clarity in tenurial and entitlement regimes.

Organic production

He also stated that the forests of Chhattisgarh are primarily inhabited by the tribals and at places there are primitive tribals as well, identified by the Government of India. These tribals have been using traditional methods of cultivation and are yet to come under the impending impact of the green revolution and the use of chemical fertilizers and other toxic substances to enhance production. As a result, the forests managed by them have never been exposed to synthetic substances or chemical fertilizers, thereby enunciating natural practice of organic cultivation.

Traceability / Chain of custody

Dr. Sharma visualized the traceability of the produce that after the produce reaches the consumer, it may be traced back to its source of origin. He gave an illustration that the labels on finished products would pronounce its source such as the honey which may be labeled as 'organically grown', 'free from chemical pesticides', 'pure herbal contents', 'brought from the wilds of Bastar' etc. These claims however, will need to be substantiated by robust quality control mechanisms, physically and chemically proven through lab test results. 

 Benefit sharing mechanisms

The PCCF expressed his determination to extend the benefits accruing from marketing of non-wood forest products to the people of Disadvantaged Geographic Locations (DGLs) which will result into improvement in their socio-cultural and economic well being.

 Green marketing

Dr. R.C. Sharma reflected on the limitation of NWFP certification which has remained confined to the traditional knowledge while on the other hand there is ample literature available covering various aspects of timber certification. He said that there is a need to explore market potential for some products. There is tremendous unclear market potential for certified NWFP. He emphasized the need to objectively see the actual market potential of the herbal produces and need to explore whether all the produces available from forests should be certified or should the efforts remain restricted and concerted to certify only few economically viable produces having assured marketability.

 Quality control mechanisms

For standard quality methods, Fair, Average Quality (FAQ) norms will need to be developed by the industries. This will provide a benchmark for the producers entailing requisitions from industries for pre-determined specifications.      

Cost 

Certification, as has been seen in case of timber products, is an expensive and capital-intensive activity, which involves mandatory expenditure on the part of the producer as well as the consumers. The certification of non-wood forest produce undertaken in Chhattisgarh on the other hand, will be:  

• Simple,  

• Cost effective; and  

• Result oriented.