An Assessment of Non Timber Forest Products of Jhargram Division

A survey has been conducted in Jhargram Division of West Bengal for the availability, type and quantity of NTFPs. A total of 85 NTFPs are identified which includes plants of different habit groups, occupying different strata and types of vegetation. Range wise quantification of 33 products has been done. Although NTFPs are collected for different uses like domestic utility, marketing but its maximum use is for medicinal purposes. Different plant parts of same plant are used for different purposes. Prices of available 85 products have been ascertained. Identification of commercially important plants has been done. All marketed NTFPs are purchased by city based pharmaceutical companies or other dealers from local dealers. Although collection of NTFPs is related to livelihood of JFMC members and associated with business of several million rupees however, only a little control mechanism over their collection, storing, marketing, etc. was found.