Bhubaneswar, June 25 (UDN): The Odisha government has initiated a comprehensive review of the state’s kendu leaf sector with a focus on enhancing livelihood opportunities and creating new avenues of employment through skill development and value addition initiatives.
At a high-level review meeting, officials discussed strategies to strengthen the kendu leaf economy, which serves as a major source of livelihood for lakhs of forest-dependent families, particularly in tribal and rural regions of the state.
Recognising the sector’s immense employment potential, the government emphasized the need to move beyond traditional kendu leaf collection and explore value-added activities, entrepreneurship and skill-based interventions to generate sustainable income for rural communities.
Officials noted that the kendu leaf sector has been playing a pivotal role in supporting the rural economy by providing seasonal employment to collectors, binders, seasonal workers and transporters. Efforts are now being made to further expand the sector’s economic footprint by promoting modern processing techniques, strengthening market linkages and encouraging cottage-based industries.
The review also focused on imparting skill training to youth and women associated with the sector to enable them to diversify their livelihoods and undertake kendu-based entrepreneurial activities. Experts stressed that enhanced skills, coupled with better infrastructure and timely support mechanisms, could significantly improve the earning potential of primary collectors.
The government is also exploring measures to ensure greater transparency, improve procurement systems and facilitate timely payment to kendu leaf collectors.
With Odisha being among the country’s leading producers of kendu leaves, policymakers believe that strategic interventions and targeted skill development programmes can transform the sector into a major driver of rural employment and inclusive economic growth.
Officials expressed confidence that the renewed focus on the kendu leaf sector would not only strengthen forest-based livelihoods but also create substantial employment opportunities across the state.
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