Herbal products prepared by tribes will now be exported. The herbal products have received organic certification by NPOP(National program for Organic production).

Forest protection and management committee members working in the tribal areas make herbal products. These products have been certified as organic by NPOP. Members of NPOP took samples of the products which passed all levels for organic certification. This certification will enable the sale and even export of these herbal products.

Members of forest protection committee collect herbal plants and flowers from the forest. More than 125 products are made from aanvla, baheda, khajur, sitafal, malkangni, shikakai, reetha, chirmi, kaunch, agasta, aloevera etc. Products made from these trees and plants have received organic certification. Aloevera products like juice, shampoo, face wash; aanvla juice; colours (gulaal) for holi and other processed products have also been certified.

DFO North zone OP Sharma said that forest department had sent samples for organic certification. NPOP team from India Organic came to Udaipur for survey. They checked all the products to determine if they pass the levels of organic certification. When the products passed all tests, the team certified these herbal products as organic. Certificates will soon be issued for processed products.

The officials said that some of the tribal people collect herbal plants from the forest. Some of them prepare the final product. There was a lot of demand for these herbal products from Delhi. Earlier the company had stepped back since the products were not organically certified. Now after receiving the certification, these products can easily be exported.

The collection and manufacture of these herbal products is the biggest possibility for providing employment to tribals of this area. This will help in raising life standard of the tribes as well. Herbal products are much in demand everywhere. After the certification, bulk production will need more and more participation of tribes in collecting these herbs. This will create opportunities for the upliftment of tribes.