In a bid to enhance the income of tribal people, the State Government has decided to introduce cluster promotion strategies (CPS) in the tribal sub plan (TSP) areas.
The programme to be launched for the first time in State will help tribals increase their livelihood on a sustainable basis by selling non-timber forest product (NTFP), agricultural produce (SAP), handicraft, handloom and animal husbandry products. Official sources said the new initiative will be launched in 118 TSP blocks in 21 Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs).
Several welfare schemes meant for the tribals are not properly implemented because of poor communication and road network coupled with the overdependence of tribals on agriculture and forest with inadequate infrastructure coupled with poor communication network and road transport.
Sources said a study report commissioned by the the department of scheduled tribe and scheduled caste development has identified 484 clusters across 118 TSP blocks, 21 clusters with 67 products of agriculture, horticulture, NTFP products, non-farm products and animal husbandry products.
Out of 484 product clusters, Nabarangpur has got the highest 47 clusters followed by 44 in Mayurbhanj, 43 in Koraput and five in Balasore.
Agricultural products include maize, niger, arhar, cotton, paddy, groundnut, mustard, sesame, black gram, jowar, khesari dal, ragi, sugarcane and sunflower. Among the horticulture products are cashew, sericulture, turmeric, mango, ginger, pineapple, watermelon, yam bean, aul, cabbage, brinjal, onion, pumpkin, rubber, jackfruit, potato, tomato, lemon, pipla, lemongrass, drumstick, cauliflower and vegetables.
NTFP products like mahua, tamarind, siali leaf, sal leaf, sabai, sal seed, lac, char seed, honey, hill broom, bamboo and sal, resin are also included in the list.
Non-farm activities which will be promoted include are stone carving, handloom, incense sticks preparation, puffed rice, applique, bamboo craft, wood craft, conch Shell craft, dhokra, terracotta, tribal jewellery and tribal art.
The list of also includes goatery, dairy and backyard poultry.