HimVani
Shimla (Mar 22): Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation has decided to increase the procurement price of resin by Rs 1,750 per quintal, benefiting about 5,000 households as about 60 lakh quintal resin is being produced each year in the state, earning a revenue of about Rs 80 crore for the forest department and individuals.
Talking to HimVani, managing director of HPSFDC, RK Gupta said that forests with Pinus Roxbargi (common name ‘Chir’) were found in about 1,344 square kilometre area in the state and every year about 15,777 blazers are put on government forest and about 4.5 lakh in private land. He said that state-owned forests produce resin worth Rs 40 crore per annum and private forests worth Rs 20 crore. Each tree produces about 400 gms of resin, giving Rs 50-60 income per tree to the owner. HPSFDC has now decided to enhance it rate by Rs 1,750 per quintal after fixing new procurement price of Rs 7,000 per quintal for the next finical year compared to the existing Rs 5,250 per quintal. Gupta further disclosed that the Corporations has decided to forbid ‘French Cup Lip’ method for resin extraction, which has been found erroneous.
He further said that after procuring resin from people, the Corporations processes it into different categories at its joinery unit in Shamshi in Kullu district before being further carried for trading to Mumbai under ‘Himachal Forest product’ in the international market.
