Scanty rains in Western Ghats covering national parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, have hit non-timber forest produces which are widely used in Ayurveda and pharmaceutical industries. The herbal and detergent industries which also depend on minor forest produces like honey, amla, soap nut, lichen, soap berry, medicinal plants and other non-timber forest produces collected by indigenous tribes, like Soligas and Jenu Kurubas, may also face the heat as the production of honey has fallen by 70 per cent and lichen is not available because of the continued dry spell.
The 5,000 and odd members of the tribal community, spread across Chamarajanagar district, Biligiri Rangaswamy Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur, collect the minor forest produces and sell them to large scale multi-purpose cooperative societies (LAMPS).
These forest produces constitute about 60 per cent of their income. LAMPS purchase honey at Rs 90 per kg and lichen at Rs 150 per kg during the season.
They have registered a turnover of Rs 3 crore Hanur, Yalandur, Chamarajanagar and Gundlupet areas last year.
However, the tribals, who move in groups to collect honey and lichens, are returning empty handed due to poor flowering of plants now. The BRT Wildlife Sanctuary has received only 2 inches of rain as against the average 28 inches.
“We have no other option, but to migrate to the estates in Kodagu or across the state border,” said Made Gowda of Muneshwara Colony. His five members’ group which used to collect more than 80 to 100 kg of honey in three days are returning with less than 20 kg, he added.
The future seems to be bleak for these tribal families as they fear a fall in yield of amla (gooseberry) also in the coming months as these plants are being damaged by parasites. The growth of lanta weeds across the forest is also changing the pattern of vegetation and checking growth of grass and medicinal plants which is affecting the Ayurvedic and herbal industries as they depend largely on the herbs. A few tribals who have managed to get some honey, are now selling it raw to tourists at Rs 120 a kg and the processed honey is being sold at Rs 180 to Rs 220 a kg.
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