The government today said that a special Commission will soon be set up to fix the Minimum Support Price, MSP for the Minor Forest Products, MFP, produced by tribals to earn their livelihoods.

Talking to media persons in New Delhi today, Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo said, it will start working from 1st of January next year after procedural formalities.

He said that Planning Commission has already given its nod for setting up the commission. He added that definition of MFP will be expanded to include items such as bamboo and tendu leaves to provide more options to the forest dwellers.

The Minister said that Central government will provide financial support for procurement, creation of enabling infrastructure, training for sustainable harvesting and also provide subsidy to state level agencies in case they incur any loss in the transactions.

Earlier, inaugurating the silver jubilee function of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited, TRIFED, Mr Chandra Kishore Deo appreciated its contribution in trading in forest and agricultural products from tribal areas.

He asked, TRIFED to concentrate on Minor Forest Produce, MFP, as it has significant economic and social value for the forest dwellers. Mr Chandra Deo said that TRIFED has to play an important role in implementation of the MSP Scheme for MFPs.

Our correspondent adds that TRIFED is the nodal agency for marketing various products developed by tribals and manages a chain of 27 retail outlets called 'Tribes India' in 16 states