With the current procurement season, the quality of “green gold” (tendu leaves) is in serious danger in Bastar as big bundle of tendu leaves were damaged by unseasonal rain. There is a fear of huge losses by officials and collectors as termite have been detected in several of the storage centres due to the continuous rains and moisture.
The collection and procurement of Tendu leaves has now started in the Bastar region with the collection of leaves from forests by the beneficiaries and selling it at the collection centres. But, the weather has interfered with the process. Over the last few days, there have been storms, strong winds, hail and heavy rains in the evening in districts like Kanker where scorching high temperature was prevalent during the day.
Thousands of tendu leaf bundles have been soaked by the sudden rainfall, with gusty winds reportedly scattering and damaging many stacks of tendu leaves that were out for drying. The moisture inside the bundles has begun to attract the termites, and is rapidly degrading the quality of the leaves, according to officials and workers at procurement centres.
There are approximately 120 registered tendu leaf collectors in the procurement centre of Nava Gaon village in the district headquarters. They have already ordered nearly 60,000 tendu leaf bundles there this season, authorities said. But, it is reported that it was continuously raining and all the stored stock was drenched and complaints were received about termite infestation and deterioration of leaves.
Collectors and local authorities are worried that if the leaves are not dried and preserved immediately, the state may lose a lot in the quality of its produce, which has a direct impact on its market value. Tendu leaves are a vital source of livelihood for thousands of tribal families in Chhattisgarh, and are commonly used in traditional hand-rolled cigarettes called bidis.
Police are now considering ways to increase the protection of the collected stock from further deterioration due to weather and pests.