Honey: One of three most important “minor” products to come out of forests

Siliguri, Jan. 12: Timber is no longer the most important forest product and the state forest department is finally coming round to accepting it.

The department is contemplating doing away with the name of its 40-year-old minor forest produce division and giving it a “more appropriate” title.

“We have initiated the process of renaming the wing,” K.C. Gayen, the principal chief conservator of forests, told The Telegraph. “Timber or wood has always been the major produce of the forests, especially in the initial days. That is why the wing dealing with other products was named minor-forest produce division. But things have changed and what we called ‘minor’ then have assumed greater significance now,” he added.

Citronella oil, turmeric and honey are the three main products that the minor-forest produce wing deals with. “We plan to make certain additions to the list,” said A.K. Mukherjee, the divisional forest officer of the wing.

As for the new name, Mukherjee said he sent a proposal to his higher-ups late last year suggesting two alternatives — non-wood forest produce and non-timber forest produce.

“Everywhere in the world and even the rest of the country, this division is known by either of the two names,” Mukherjee said. “Non-timber produce, the so called ‘minor produce’ accounts for 50 to 70 per cent of the total forest supply. For the department to continue referring to it as ‘minor’ would sound derogatory as well as erroneous,” he added.

Mukherjee hoped that a name change would help send across the message that all aspects of forestry are equally important to the forest department and the government.

Plans are also being made to increase the participation of eco-development and forest-protection committees, as well as self-help groups, in non-timber forest activities. “So far, we have engaged these groups in marketing. Very soon, we will also hand them the manufacturing responsibilities,” Mukherjee said.