Chhattisgarh Herbals and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras: Transforming Forest-Based Livelihoods in Bastar

Bastar, one of Chhattisgarh’s most forest-rich regions, is home to a diverse range of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) that has supported forest-dependent communities for generations. Tamarind, cashew, Mahua, Chironji, honey, medicinal forest produce and several other natural resources form an important part of the region’s livelihood ecosystem.

Today, this forest wealth is moving beyond traditional collection towards processing, value addition, product development and marketing through a growing network of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).

Complementing this value-chain approach, Chhattisgarh Herbals provides a market-facing identity for value-added forest products from the state, helping connect Chhattisgarh’s forest wealth with consumers and wider markets.

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras Strengthening Livelihoods in Bastar

The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra model in Bastar is designed to create greater economic opportunities from locally available forest produce.

Bastar Division has established 52 Van Dhan Kendras, including two PVTG Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for the Abujhmadia community. More than 18,000 women group members are benefiting through this network.

The focus extends beyond collection. Van Dhan Kendras are helping develop an organised ecosystem for processing and value addition so that locally available forest resources can be transformed into marketable products.

Currently, 10 Van Dhan Kendras in Bastar Division are producing 66 types of products, including Bastar cashew, Bastar tamarind, Mahua seed oil, medicinal churnas and brooms.

These activities connect naturally with the wider portfolio of forest-based products from Chhattisgarh, bringing traditional resources into organised consumer markets.

From Minor Forest Produce to Value-Added Products

The emerging forest-based livelihood model in Bastar follows a larger value chain:

Forest Produce → Collection → Processing → Value Addition → Finished Products → Market Linkages

The Bastar action plan proposes strengthening a wide range of activities, including flower broom production, Mahul dona-pattal, AYUSH products, lac cultivation, custard apple processing, bamboo products, Chironji processing, Tikhur processing, oilseed processing, food processing and tamarind processing.

Products such as Tikhur Powder demonstrate how traditional forest and natural food resources can become consumer-ready products through processing and packaging.

Similarly, the AYUSH and herbal product range reflects the potential of medicinal forest resources in developing value-added wellness products.

By processing forest produce closer to its source, communities can participate in more stages of the value chain rather than depending only on the sale of raw forest produce.

Bastar Tamarind and Bastar Cashew: Creating Value Locally

Bastar tamarind and Bastar cashew demonstrate the potential of local value addition.

Women groups associated with Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are being supported with interest-free loans through the Forest Department’s revolving fund. During the current year, these groups have procured more than 1,000 quintals of tamarind and 100 quintals of cashew for processing through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.

Processing these forest products locally creates opportunities to move from raw produce towards consumer-ready products with greater market potential.

This is also where branding and market linkages become important. A recognisable identity such as Chhattisgarh Herbals can help communicate the origin and forest-based character of value-added products while connecting them with consumers.

The brand's premium forest produce collection provides an example of how products sourced from the state's natural resources can be presented to wider markets.

Chhattisgarh Herbals: Connecting Forest Products with Consumers

For a forest-based value chain to become sustainable, processing needs to be supported by effective marketing.

The Bastar action plan specifically proposes linking Van Dhan Vikas Kendras with marketing activities, alongside strengthening processing. Local sales are to be encouraged, while marketing through women groups in neighbouring states is also proposed.

Chhattisgarh Herbals fits naturally into this larger market-oriented ecosystem by providing a consumer-facing identity for value-added forest products from Chhattisgarh.

Products developed from forest resources can move through a broader journey:

Forest → Community Collection → Van Dhan Vikas Kendra → Processing & Value Addition → Chhattisgarh Herbals → Consumer

The brand's portfolio includes products such as Organic Wild Forest Honey, Mahua Pickle, Tikhur Powder and various herbal preparations.

Through this approach, the story behind a product becomes as important as the product itself—connecting consumers with the forests, natural resources and forest-based livelihood ecosystem of Chhattisgarh.

For a deeper understanding of this journey, read The Story of Chhattisgarh Herbals: Transforming Forest Resources into Sustainable Livelihoods.

Diverse Forest-Based Enterprises Across Bastar

Different areas of Bastar have opportunities to develop enterprises based on locally available resources.

The district-wise action plan identifies activities across Narayanpur, Kanker, East and West Bhanupratappur, Kondagaon, Keshkal, Jagdalpur, Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada.

Narayanpur has processing activities involving AYUSH products and flower brooms, while additional activities involving Mahul dona-pattal, brooms and tamarind are proposed.

Kanker has activities related to AYUSH products and amchur, with further opportunities identified in areas including custard apple, oilseeds and bamboo products.

East Bhanupratappur has honey processing, while lac cultivation has been proposed as an additional activity. Opportunities involving bamboo, Chironji, Tikhur, tamarind and custard apple have been identified across other centres.

Jagdalpur is particularly significant within the plan. Of its 10 Van Dhan Kendras, five have processing activities, covering products such as AYUSH preparations, cashew, tamarind, Chironji and Mahua oil.

The plan also identifies additional processing opportunities across Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada.

This diversity demonstrates the potential for developing a wider portfolio of forest-based and natural products from Bastar.

Training and Capacity Building for Forest-Based Livelihoods

Sustainable forest enterprises require skills alongside infrastructure and financial support.

Continuous training is being provided to collectors and women groups, with approximately 3,000 beneficiaries proposed to be trained every year.

The action plan also proposes arranging necessary toolkits and financial resources through the Minor Forest Produce Federation, government support and CSR mechanisms.

Such interventions can strengthen community participation across collection, processing and value-addition activities.

The development of market-ready products also requires attention to packaging, quality standards, branding and consumer preferences. These elements help connect locally processed forest produce with organised retail and wider consumer markets.

Expanding Lac Cultivation in Bastar

Lac cultivation has also been identified as an opportunity for increasing income.

The plan proposes promoting lac cultivation in remote areas identified through surveys. Interest-free loans and subsidies for lac seed are proposed to support its expansion.

The initiative reflects the broader objective of developing forest-based livelihood opportunities according to the natural resources available within different parts of Bastar.

From Bastar's Forests to Wider Markets

The evolving story of Bastar is one of forest wealth becoming local enterprise.

With 52 Van Dhan Kendras, more than 18,000 women group members and 66 types of products being produced by 10 Van Dhan Kendras, Bastar has a growing foundation for collection, processing and value addition of Minor Forest Produce.

Through stronger processing facilities, training, financial support and market linkages, the objective is to enable communities to participate in a greater share of the forest-produce value chain.

Chhattisgarh Herbals adds a consumer-facing dimension to this journey by helping give value-added forest products a distinct identity in the marketplace.

From Bastar tamarind and cashew to Mahua oil, herbal preparations and other value-added forest products, the journey reflects a larger transformation:

From forest produce to finished products,
from traditional collection to value addition,
and from local forest wealth to wider market opportunities.

This is the emerging story of Bastar—a region where Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, Minor Forest Produce and Chhattisgarh Herbals can together strengthen the connection between forests, value addition and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

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