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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: February 13: The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India... A project for the sustainable development of nature’s bounty for the tribal people through marketing of non-wood forest produce. The tribals particularly those living in the interior forest areas depend for their livelihood to a considerable extent on produce available from the forests and agriculture. About eighteen years ago on, on 6 August 1997, The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was launched as a cooperative society under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. It works as an organisation committed to serving the needs of the tribals and contributing to the upgradation of their living standards.




Efforts to improve their living standards through a sustainable development require the right balance between modernisation and the traditional belief systems of the tribals, which is struck while enabling them to harvest the rich gift of nature to their advantage. At the same time the need to conserve the nation’s ecological wealth of which the tribals are in many ways guardians should not be lost sight of. The Government of India has been implementing a wide range of programmes keeping these considerations in mind to bring about their economic upliftment in a sustainable manner.

This, in turn ensures, assured offtake of their products and remunerative prices while eliminating exploitation of tribals by market forces. The combined impact of these initiatives is aimed at bringing about sustained upgradation of living standards among these indigenous people. To pay specific attention to the marketing requirements of tribal forest and agricultural produce, the Government of India set up the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) on 6TH AUGUST 1987 as a cooperative society under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. It works as an organisation committed to serving the needs of the tribals and contributing to the upgradation of their living standards.

TRIFED operates through its Regional offices spread throughout the country as also in coordination with State level organisations, village level Cooperative societies, LAMPS State Forest Development Cooperatives, State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation. The zonal office for Mumbai is located in the outskirts of Panvel, near Khanda Colony. In the process of increasing the number of associations, it has succeeded in assuring remunerative prices as also expansion in the end use of tribal products.

Some of the objectives of the organisation are listed below

· Full utilization of natural products from tribal areas by marketing
· To secure higher earnings and generate employment opportunities for tribal people
· Creation of awareness of the interplay of market forces among tribals to enable them to optmise their incomes
· Providing assured markets and remunerative prices for tribal produce and also to undertake price support operations wherever and whenever required
· Lending marketing and financial support to state level tribal and forest organisations
· Quality upgradation of tribal products with a view to maximise unit value realisation
· Export of tribal products
· To provide full range of services, including organised collection of tribal produce, scientific exploitation of forest products, storage, transportation, marketing and exports

In order to fulfill the above mentioned objectives, TRIFED organizes various activities, which includes marketing of Non Wood Forest Products and Surplus Agricultural Products made by the tribals. It gears up price support operation in tribal areas for procurement of forest and agricultural produces. It helps in implementing Grain bank scheme of Govt of India for providing Food commodities in interior inaccessible tribal areas during the lean season. It also provides training to tribal and state level organisations in scientific methods of collection, storage, marketing etc. of forest and agricultural products.

It has been supporting state-level organisations by financing purchases, storing substantial quantities so that sales can be at the appropriate time both for the domestic market as well as exports and by providing other inputs for effective and efficient marketing of tribal produce. In the process, TRIFED has been able to ensure higher earnings and larger employment opportunities for the tribal people.

TRIFED has undertaken an ambitious project of establishing a network of retail chain of TRIBES shop. This network of outlets will enable tribal people to gain access to metropolitan and other urban markets, and also export markets, for their art, handicrafts and other products. For consumers, the TRIBES shop prescribes an opportunity to acquire authentic and unique tribal artifacts, handicrafts, textiles and other products. Apart from the products of the tribal people, the TRIBES shop would make available art, craft and utility products produced by persons with disability also.

Organic food, in simple words food items grown without the use of any chemical fertilizers, pesticides etc., offers a new way of healthy living. The TRIBES shop would also make available the produce from organic farms in India including the farms of the tribal people. The products at TRIBES would reflect the colourful and rich culture of the Indian tribal people - an integral part of the country's heritage and creativity Initially the TRIBES shop in the capital, fully funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, will function as TRIFED's own unit. It is envisaged to promote this retail unit into a countrywide network of franchises.
With such efforts of the Government of India, like TRIFED, the underprivileged will not have to run around to have their two ends meet. The country’s development starts at the ground level & the tribal sector’s development cannot be overlooked is believed by TRIFED.


Smriti Mishra