India, July 2 -- Tribal women in Chhattisgarh's Nagari block say they are forced to sell minor forest produce to middlemen at low prices because markets are far and procurement centres are unreliable.

Forest produce such as medicinal herbs, tubers, leaves, mahua, tamarind, lac and tendu leaves remains central to tribal livelihoods in the state.

Collectors say they often spend days gathering, cleaning and sorting produce, only to earn a few dozen rupees when selling locally.

Data from Chhattisgarh Minor Forest Produce shows procurement at support price fell from 627,470.50 quintals in 2021 to 35,002.85 quintals in 2024-25.

Seventy-year-old Dhamshila returns home with a heavy load of medicinal herbs on her head after spending the day in...