Tendu Leaves Trade in Madhya Pradesh: a Big Cooperative Venture

Madhya Pradesh is producing about 60% of the tolal tendu leaves produced in the country and annually earns a net receipt of Rs. 1500-2000 millions. In 1964 State Government enacted the Madhya Pradesh Tendu Patta Vyapar Viniyaman Adhiniyam to help the forest dwellers and to check thefts of tendu leaves. After taking control of tendu leaves business, agents were appointed by the Govt. and later in 1980, to do away with the agent system, State Government appointed M.P. State Marketing Federation as agent. In order to give more benefits to forest dwellers, the M.P. State Minor Forest Produce Cooprative Federation was formed in ]984. But activities of both the Federations were confined to few districts of the State in 1988, State Govt. decided to cooperatize the trade and cooperative societies were formed. Trade in tendu leave is very encouraging and is providing employment to over two million people of the State.