Sal Seed Unit to Boost Tribal Income in Chhattisgarh

Korba, May 30 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh forest department plans to set up a sal seed (Shorea robusta) processing unit in Katghora division of Korba district to enhance the income of tribal and forest-dependent families engaged in its collection.

Katghora Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kumar Nishant on Saturday said oil extracted from sal seeds, commonly known as 'sal butter', has substantial demand in the food industry and is used as a fat substitute in products such as chocolates, biscuits and other processed foods.

It is also used in the manufacture of cosmetics, soaps and beauty products, he said.

A proposal has been submitted by Katghora forest division to establish the processing facility at Donganala village under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scheme, he said.

"The initiative is aimed at promoting local-level value addition of minor forest produce and is expected to provide direct economic benefits to tribal communities and forest dwellers. Korba's forests are rich in minor forest produce such as sal seeds, mahua, char, lac and tendu leaves," he said.

At present, these products are often purchased from villagers and collectors at low prices by traders, who transport them to industries and urban centres for processing, earning significantly higher profits, Nishant said.

The forest department wants to change this system by developing local processing facilities so that the actual benefits of forest produce reach rural communities, he asserted.


"More than 1,000 quintals of sal seeds are collected annually during May and June in the district's two forest divisions- Katghora and Korba. The proposed processing unit will not be limited to sal seeds but will also be capable of extracting oil from mahua fruit, locally known as 'dori'," Nishant added.

At present, villagers produce 'dori' oil using traditional methods that require considerable labour and time.

The installation of modern machinery is expected to make the process easier and more efficient, he said.

"The facility will also be able to extract oil from kusum and neem seeds, which are used for medicinal purposes, religious ceremonies and lighting lamps," the official added.

Sal seeds have long been an important part of the traditional lifestyle of tribal communities. Rural families grind the seeds into flour and use it to prepare various food items, making sal seeds not only a forest produce but also an integral part of local culture and livelihoods.

The residue left after oil extraction, known as oil cake, is also valuable as it is rich in protein and starch and can be used as cattle and poultry feed, creating an additional source of income for rural households, he said.

If the Donganala project proves successful, similar processing units could be established in other forested areas, Nishant said.