Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

chutney and fresh pulp. Similarly, processed products are popular in Sri
Lanka and fresh pulp itself is wrapped in polythene bags and sold in retail
shops. Tamarind chutney is also available in Sri Lankan supermarkets and
tamarind-lime pickle has been promoted in Sri Lankan markets by the
Marketing Department. In Australia, fresh fruits are packed in 15 kg cartons
and sold through wholesalers and Asian groceries. The wholesale price per
kilogram is about $A 3-5 per carton.
Marothia and Gauraha (1992) studied the marketing mechanisms of minor
forest products (MFPs) in the Raipur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. They
found that 80% of the villagers were engaged in the collection of MFPs,
including tamarind, and earned their livelihood by consuming and marketing
these products. A well-organised traditional marketing system exists in the
district. Products collected by villagers were procured by the tribal agent,
and the primary wholesaler and retailer. The secondary wholesaler and the
commission agents who visit the village at their weekly markets then
purchase these. The primary retailer will often purchase the products and sell
them to the secondary wholesaler at the weekly markets. In the case of
tamarind fruits, 14.4% of the total collection of about 24 tonnes is consumed
locally while the balance of 83.3% is market surplus.
In BR Hills region of Karnataka, India, Vivekananda Girigina Kalyana
Kendra (VGKK), a non governmental organisation (NGO) is actively
working to improve benefits for tribals in that region. The NGO helps in
production and marketing of deseeded tamarind in the form of tamarind
blocks (0.5-1 kg) wrapped with polythene film.
The total quantity of starch powder (39 tonnes) produced by the villagers
was purchased by the tribal agents and sold at the weekly markets to the
secondary wholesalers. In this marketing chain, the actual price received by
the collector per kilogram was Rs 700.00 while that of the primary
wholesaler/ retailer was Rs 1100.00, leaving a margin of 36%. The cost of
marketing increased with the length of the marketing channel and it was also
evident that the secondary wholesalers sold the produce to the leading trade
centres in other States or for export directly. In this study it was clearly
shown that neither the collectors nor the consumers benefited in the price
spread due to unorganised marketing. The only beneficiaries of the
traditional marketing channel were the intermediaries. The marketing system
in the rest of South and Southeast Asia operates similarly through the aegis
of middlemen. This shows the need for organising the domestic marketing
system and encouraging the cultivation and processing of tamarind.
In order to minimise exploitation of poor people and improve marketability
Marothia and Gauraha (1992) suggest that village level marketing
institutions may establish small-scale collection centres in the villages.
Public, private and co-operative units may then be established. Policy and
122