Entrepreneurship
Rural Development
Strengthening Tribal Livelihoods with NTFP Value Chain
Supporting tribal development with sustainable livelihood in collaboration with EDII
4
States14
Districts17
NTFP Products Value Chain2,000+
Beneficiaries
Introduction
For thousands of tribal families living in forest-fringe villages, non-timber forest produce (NTFP) has long been a source of livelihood. However, limited value addition, fragmented markets and dependence on local traders often restricted the economic potential of these forest resources, leaving communities with low and uncertain incomes.
To unlock greater value from forest-based livelihoods, we partnered with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) to strengthen NTFP value chains across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The initiative focuses on enabling tribal communities to move beyond collection and become active participants in processing, value addition and market engagement, creating opportunities for sustainable and resilient livelihoods.
Our Intervention
The intervention is implemented through tribal Self-Help Groups, Common Interest Groups and community institutions, placing local communities at the centre of the value chain. Covering 17 non-timber forest produce, the initiative strengthens every stage of the ecosystem, from aggregation and processing to product diversification and market access.
To enhance local value creation, processing units have been established across 14 districts enabling communities to convert raw forest produce into market-ready products. Capacity building, enterprise development support and market linkages have further equipped tribal producers to access new opportunities, including digital marketplaces and emerging high-value markets.
Impact
The initiative has connected forest-fringe villages through an integrated network of value addition and market systems, creating stronger livelihood opportunities closer to home. By enabling local processing and product diversification, communities are able to capture greater value from forest resources while reducing dependence on intermediaries.
Today, more than 2,000 tribal beneficiaries are part of a growing ecosystem that links sustainable forest-based enterprises with wider markets. The expansion of digital marketing channels, stronger market linkages and emerging export potential are helping transform traditional forest produce into engines of economic growth, fostering resilient livelihoods and strengthening the relationship between communities and the forests they depend on.
