INTRODUCTION

Jharkhand is a major producer of tamarind, most of which are traded through routes namely Andhra Pradesh (Vizainagaram, Vishakapatnam), Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states. However, almost all the produce from the state is exported outside without any value addition which naturally fetches less remuneration to the producers than they could have otherwise got through value addition. There is no formal processing of tamarind is present in the state. Tamarind moves out to other states and gets the processing and value addition done there. Despite having one of the largest tamarind producing state, the involved farmers/collectors gets very less share in whole of the value chain. The traders mostly earn the margins here and then by processors of the other state. In order to increase the fair share of farmers/collectors in Jharkhand it is imperative to start processing of tamarind in the state through community institutions.
Average in flow of Tamarind is 26,000 MT in a year at State level mandi. Large volume (Approx: 80%) of Tamarind is being exported to north and south India and rest are consumed within state whereas few quantity of Tamarind is being exported to foreign market like UAE and Singapore. As per study 90% of Tamarind business is being traded without any value addition practices. Even grading, sorting, drying, de-seeding of Tamarind has not been done at village level or at any progressive collector level. Very few local level traders are doing de-seeding of Tamarind at block level and district level. At the same time state level traders are not doing any extra value addition work in Tamarind, even they are not doing grading and sorting of Tamarind for interstate selling. Traders are trading the Tamarind from district level to other state traders.
Position of primary target group: The tamarind activity has been linked with community institutional frame work and support to income generation activity for women with less drudgery, NPM base and in a suitable way at household level.
Existing selling system: Limited activity in tamarind in context to Jharkhand has been observed, only few players are involved in tamarind business across the chain. In Jharkhand major actors in tamarind are collectors at village.
Level who collect tamarind from trees and remove top shell at village level then local /block/district level traders are doing aggregation and de-seeding of tamarind and seed processing of tamarind at block or district level and finally state level traders are involved in storing of tamarind, de-seeding, brick making and exporting.

TAMARIND PROCESSING UNIT

Developing a win-win situation and inter-dependency among actors across the chain will result in sustainability of the stakeholder’s position and relation among all actors and supporters across the chain. Brick making at PG level is a new intervention in the state. The product flow from the household level to state level trader through various traders and commission agents would result into high prices at that level. The proposed intervention is going to link exporters with the PGs engaged in the Tamarind brick production, thereby doing away with the involvement of traders and commission agents.
Village level traders are being involved in sale of raw Tamarind, but the commission is only Rs 1-2/- per Kg; whereas district or state level traders is realization commission up to Rs. 5/- per Kg. At the same time due to storage facility with state or district level traders being involved in off season Tamarind business. In Tamarind implementation plan local village level traders will became FPO (Selection and approved by PGs), who will avail capacity building training by RELIVANT AGENCY and will attend various PG level and other meeting. FPO will be involved in trading of Tamarind brick and seed from PG to end buyer in the block. This will reduce transportation cost, give good commission, provide entry into new product marketing, and ensure storage facility and various services at block level. As a result, FPO would be motivated and will lead to creation of inter dependency with PG and buyer.
Tamarind brick can be sold to state level traders, traders at south India and trader at target block, hence PGs has various options for marketing of Tamarind brick. But selling the product at proposed block level trader will result low risk for both of the party (Buyer and PGs); because for PG /FPO marketing of brick and seed with low transporting cost, getting assured market, zero involvement of outsiders and getting payment in time will be easy. Similarly for trader it will easy to purchase the product, control or facilitate quality of brick during processing at PG level as per market demand, availability of Tamarind seed for self processing unit.

Key factors for successfully implementation of the plan:

a)Transparency in accounting .

b)Data keeping system at each node of buying – selling of the product (From raw Tamarind to Tamarind brick) weekly PG meeting in presence of FPO and monthly meeting between POTENTIAL DISTRICTS, selected women leaders, FPO, VCC team and buyer. (during the season).

c)Proper system for equipment maintenance and division of work among PG members.

d)Timely payment to each actors across the chain .

e)MoU between PG – FPO and FPO – buyer for marketing of the product and other support for each other.

COVERAGE

Name of the districts	Number of Blocks	Name of the Blocks	Number of farmers proposed	Number of PG proposed
Simdega	2	Bano, Jaldega	600	12
Gumla	2	Sisai, Bharno	600	12
West singhbhum	3	Manhorpur, Bandhgaon, Goelkera	900	18
Hazaribaagh	3	Chuchu, Ichak, Dadhi	900	18
Ranchi	2	Angara, Ormanjhi	600	12
Khunti	2	Rania, Torpa	900	18
Sarikela	2	Kharsua, Kuchai	600	12
East Singhbhum	3	Ghatshila, Musabani, chakulia	900	18

WAY FORWARD