Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce

Description
The scheme “Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce” was introduced in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The scheme is implemented by revising and merging existing two separate schemes - "Market Development of Tribal Products/Produce" and "Grant-in-Aid to State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation for Minor Forest Produce Operation". The Scope: - To give comprehensive support for people belonging to various tribes in the entire range of production, product development, reservation of traditional heritage, support to both forest and agricultural produce of tribal people, support to both forest and agriculture produce of tribal people, support to Institutions to carry the above activities, provision of better infrastructure, development of designs, dissemination of information about price and the agencies which are buying the products, support to Government agencies for sustainable marketing and thereby ensure a reasonable price regime. - Sharing of information with Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha - Skill upgradation, development of utilitarian products for increase in value market.

Benefits
• **Activities to be undertaken under the Scheme:**
• > **Market Intervention:** The various aspects of marketing intervention which will be supported under this scheme are:-
• fixation of equitable prices for existing products both manmade and natural;
• Actual procurement by State agencies as a safety net program and not monopoly/nationalization.
• Support during seasons of harvest when prices tend to get depressed;
• Sharing of information on prices so that people can make informed and conscious decisions and thereby markets become efficient;
• Selling of products by the State Agencies in urban areas and areas away from where they are produced to increase the demand for the products.
• Grading of products,
• Standardization,
• Source certification/Patent etc.
• Other promotional activities,
• > **Training and Skill upgradation:**
• Training for improved production and higher-grade products
• Training related to manmade products to improve quality
• Diversion to high-value products
• Development of improved quality and design.
• Linkage with other departments such as agriculture, horticulture, khadi and village industries, handlooms, and handicrafts, etc. for augmentation of training, skill upgradation, and technological support.
• > **R&D/IPR Activity**
• New product development through new usage
• Development of new products per se
• Development of new cost-effective processes for product development
• Expansion of the market of the tribal products through R&D measures
• The IPR regime would be to document traditional knowledge and craft for seeking benefits of royalty and protection against piracy
• New technologies of harvesting, scientific harvesting practices, etc. are other measures of R&D
• Documentation and preservation of tangible and intangible heritage for promoting tourism etc.
• > **Supply Chain Infrastructure Development:**
• Setting up of efficient warehousing facilities, godowns, cold storages, etc. wherever necessary
• Establishing processing industries for value addition.
• Sharing of information on inputs with the producers/gatherers
• Develop product-specific efficient warehousing both at the IA level and also at the village level
• Training related to product-specific warehousing.
• > **Trade Information System:**
• Capturing information about different tribal products related to the sources, types, potential, production, collection, etc.
• Collection and dissemination of trade information about various aspects of tribal products/web-enabled service SMS etc.
• > **In addition to the above, the following activities:**
• Creating brands or brands for tribal produce/products,
• Developing product designs keeping in view the export market and support for exports.

Eligibility Criteria
1. **Support under the scheme will be made available to:**
2. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED),
3. State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations,
4. State Forest Development Corporations (SDCs),
5. Minor Forest produce (Trading and Development) Federations (MFPTDFs),
6. Other institutions identified for product design, development, export processing, training of tribal producers, patenting and trademark, research, GI certification, and activities ancillary to the above.

Required Documents
• Registration certificate of corporation/institution/organization
• Details of the authorized share capital of the corporation
• Paid up share capital of the corporation
• Details of the turnover of the corporation during the last three years
• Details of the turnover expected for the current year
• Profit/loss during the last three years
• Year-wise details of grants received from the Central Government so far under this scheme and UC pending
• Copies of annual reports/Balance sheets for the last three years
• Any other document, as required

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the objective of the scheme?
A: The objective of the Scheme is to create institutions for the Scheduled Tribes to support marketing and development of activities they depend on for their livelihood.

Q: Which is the implementing agency of this scheme?
A: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India

Q: When was this scheme launched?
A: The scheme was launched in the year 2014-15.

Q: Is it a Central Sector Scheme?
A: Yes, this is a Central Sector Scheme and 100% Grant-in-aid will be provided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to Implementing Agencies.

Q: What are the various activities to be undertaken under the scheme?
A: The activities like Market Intervention, Training and Skill upgradation, R&D/IPR Activity, Supply Chain Infrastructure Development, Trade Information System, Creating brands or brands for tribal produce/products & Developing product designs keeping in view the export market and support for exports

Q: What are the Implementing Agencies?
A: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED),State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations, State Forest Development Corporations (SDCs),Minor Forest produce (Trading and Development) Federations (MFPTDFs),Other institutions identified for product design, development, export processing, training of tribal producers, patenting and trademark, research, GI certification, and activities ancillary to the above.

Q: How can proposal be submitted under the scheme?
A: The Implementing Agencies (IA) would be responsible for preparing the proposal and detailed action plan along with budgetary requirements and submitting it to the State Tribal/Welfare Department well in advance.