Kaushalendra Kumar Jha

Research Article

J Plant Chem and Ecophysiol. 2016; 1(1): 1007.

Some Marketing Aspects of Important Non-Timber Forest Products in a Proposed UNESCO Heritage Site of Arunanchal Pradesh, India

Kaushalendra Kumar Jha*

Technical Forestry, Indian Institute of Forest Management, India

*Corresponding author: Kaushalendra Kumar Jha, Technical Forestry, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, MP 462003 India

Received: April 01, 2016; Accepted: May 23, 2016; Published: May 24, 2016

Abstract

Ziro valley in Arunanchal Pradesh is a designated heritage site of UNESCO which has been inhabited by the Apatani tribe for centuries. They have perfected the indigenous knowledge based use of non-timber forest products for various purposes. In the last few decades they have been marketing some of these products in order to improve their livelihood. The objective of the present study is to identify potential products, prevailing marketing aspects, commercialization impact on natural resources, and to explore future strategy. Qualitative methods of research like questionnaire survey, semi-structured interview, focus group discussion etc. were used for data collection. Altogether 127 products were recognized as marketable, potentially marketable and products with meager potential used for supplementing food, medicine, house construction etc. At the time of survey, 55 products were sold in local (Antiitari ayi, Baching ayi, Biiling, Byako; Solanum kurzi, Byako; S. myricanthum etc.) and regional (Ginseng, Nikhe, Paris, Eppane naniii, Tapyo, Taxus, Tiiming, and Yaso) markets. Around 40 products were identified as commercially important (Samper ayi >Salyo ayi >Hiipey hamang >Baching ayi >Byapu >Kung ayi >Biiling >Taro ayi >Mepi hamang >Siya hamang etc.). Short and long value chain products were traded in informal markets. Price spreads of 20 short value chain products are recorded. Research need and value addition to some products, improvement in market information system and change in market nature from informal to formal has been suggested as possible strategy for better return. NTFP extraction should be well organized and coordinated with harvest guidelines for the sustainability of extraction and supply to the market.

Keywords: Commercial NTFPs; Market channels; Value chains; Value addition; Commercialization impact

Introduction

Ziro Valley in Lower Subansiri district of Arunanchal Pradesh is one of the proposed heritage sites of UNESCO on account of uniqueness in culture, tradition, knowledge about agriculture, forest management system and conservation techniques adopted by its inhabitants [1-3]. This valley is inhabited by the Apatani tribe which has the distinction of being the only non-nomadic and area confined tribe out of 26 different tribes spread over the whole of the easternmost Himalayan region of India [4,5]. Although the people are totally dependent on settled agriculture and aquaculture for subsistence, unlike other tribes which practice shifting cultivation, they have perfected forest management based on traditional knowledge developed during many centuries [6-8]. Most of them are dependent on forest resources for their livelihood and income generation. They extract timber and small wood from forests for house construction and energy need. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are also extracted from these forests, which are a rich repository of NTFPs, and are used on day to day basis [3,9]. These NTFPs fulfilled the requirement of food supplement, herbal medicine and other sociocultural needs.

Initially, the use of NTFPs was limited to local consumption, but as the society grew in numbers and the population moved outside the valley, the local populace got exposed to the outside world. Consequently, the pressure grew on them to change to a new lifestyle. Simultaneously, a new regime of development arrived along with improved agriculture and other practices. This had some influence on Apatani practices related to NTFPs as well. They started selling green as well as semi-processed products for local and outside consumption so that their livelihood conditions could improve. There are a few reports on the use of NTFPs by the Apatani, like Kala [10] on ethno botany, especially the use of medicinal plants, Srivastava [5] on biocultural knowledge of plant resources, Yakang et al. [9] on the use of traditional and common products, Bamin and Gajurel [11] on the cultural and ritual use of plants, Tilling et al. [12] on indigenous utilization of medicinal plants. However, none of these has explored the marketing aspects of medicinal, food and other plant items, which otherwise have a tremendous potential in regional as well as national markets.

In this context it feels pertinent to record the current practices and procedures related to NTFP marketing in this unique site. Marketing refers to the products that bring revenue by enhancing quality, giving brand, improving business linkages, networking market places etc. [13]. Therefore, the present study aimed at studying some of the current aspects of marketing of NTFPs in Ziro valley like, (i) identifying marketable, potentially marketable and commercially important NTFPs (ii) understanding some of the marketing practices like existing market channels, value chains, value addition etc. and (iii) exploring the impact of commercialization on local resources.

Materials and Methods

Study site

Main location of this research study was Ziro valley (27Â°33â€™59” N and 93Â°49â€™53” E), of Lower Subansiri District in Arunanchal Pradesh (Figure 1). The valley has an area of more than 1058 km², of which 33 km² is under cultivation and much a smaller area is under settlement. However, a majority of the area is covered by forests of different ownership and plantations [14]. The climate is humid sub-tropical to temperate with 235 cm annual rainfall and 1.9 to 28.1°C temperature variation [1]. Research was further expanded to different commercial locations like, markets of Naharlagun and Itanagar in Arunanchal Pradesh, and Lakhimpur in Assam which are the independent but nodal market points for Ziro valley NTFPs.

Figure 1: Location of Ziro valley (inset; google image) and different markets for the Ziro Valley produced NTFPs.

    
    
    Figure 1:  Location of Ziro valley (inset; google image) and different markets
for the Ziro Valley produced NTFPs.

Data collection

Qualitative research methods like, reconnaissance survey, questionnaire survey, semi-structured interview, focus group discussion, informal discussion etc. were employed for data collection and validation. Altogether 65 resource persons were involved in providing information. They were dispersed over 20 working sites (16 villages and 4 urban centers) as 24 farmers at home, 17 vendors in the market and 24 professionals working in forest, horticulture, education and business organizations. August 2014, March 2015 and October 2015 were the periods of field research. The first visit was used for reconnaissance survey while the second and third visits were used to capture data related to the subject matter and seasonal variation of the product-entry into the market. All the informants were either interviewed directly or with the help of language interpreters. Primary questions were asked to collect data on the products used for marketing or self-consumption, quantity of collection and selling price, processing of raw materials, end users, difficulties in the trade of NTFPs etc. with the help of pre-decided questionnaire and semistructured interview. Secondary questions were asked to fill in the gaps remaining during preplanned data collection.

The respondents identified marketable and potentially marketable NTFPs of priority during interactions. The commercial importance of different species (NTFPs) was determined by using total turnover value of the product. This was derived by multiplying price of the product to annual production. Information on production quantity was collected from farmers and market price was collected from vendors. Additionally, key informants, generally traders, were also contacted to get both the data. More than one response on the same item was averaged out. A decreasing product value indicated lesser commercial importance of the NTFPs.

Vegetable and fruits were sold in the local market by volume, pile volume in the case of fruits and bundle volume in the case of vegetables, not by weight. Therefore, selling rate was derived by converting pile/ bundle volume price to green weight price and extrapolating it to per kilogram. Resource persons for this information were the vendors as well as buyers. Rates given by them were validated for each other. Rates were collected in March 2015 (Pre-rainy season) and October 2015 (Post-rainy season). Minimum 5 to 10 vendors or buyers were contacted both the times. More than one value for any item was averaged out.

Results and Discussion

Historically, the Apatani were dependent on indigenous plants for their daily requirement. Later, they adopted the marketing of some tree products for improvement of their livelihood conditions. This was revealed by almost all resource persons. Proportional distribution of resource persons in the present study was 37% farmers, 26% vendors and 37% other professionals including traders. They also informed during interviews and informal interactions that more than 95% Apatani were using local products grown in forests, home garden and agriculture field. Sequential location of NTFP yielding land parcels studied in a different village was the same as reported by Jha [14] but the tentative distances varied in Dutta village (Koj Rinya, Pers. Comm.) which is presented in Figure 2. This could be due to topographic variation of the landscape among the villages and availability of land types. However, the villagers identified the marketable and potentially marketable NTFPs of different categories extracted from these parcels. Some of these products were sold to earn their livelihood in the local village and urban markets directly but sometimes through agents even to distant state capital market. Many products which had low marketable value due to lower popularity and demand were consumed by them along with products which were to be marketed. Sometimes some of the products were gifted or exchanged among the kin and neighbor. Altogether 127 priority NTFPs belonged to 100 scientifically identified and 11 unidentified plant species. All the important products from marketing point of view are listed in Table 1 which is the updated version from Jha [14]. Vernacular names of the Apatani products are used in the text along with scientific names at least once except for those which could not be identified e.g. Diiran sankhan, Haliyan, Hulu taro, Kung ayi, Luli hamang, Niiming, Nikhe, Payinglamu hamang, Rhyiing ayi, Samo and Senko.

Figure 2: Shows NTFP related land use pattern in Ziro valley (Dutta village). Distance of the parcel is from the settlement and indicated by arrow (not scaled). Pt = private, In = individual, Cl = clan, Cm = community. Adopted from Jha [14].

    
    
    Figure 2:  Shows NTFP related land use pattern in Ziro valley (Dutta village).
Distance of the parcel is from the settlement and indicated by arrow (not
scaled). Pt = private, In = individual, Cl = clan, Cm = community. Adopted
from Jha [14].

Table 1: List of currently marketed (local and external or inter-region level), potentially marketable and meagre potential NTFPs used by Apatani. *marked products are semi-processed and consumed or sold locally. **marked products are semi-processed and consumed or sold externally and unmarked products are consumed or sold unprocessed or green.




  
    Locally    Marketed 
  
  
    Apatani    name 
    Scientific    name 
    Use 
  
  
    1 
    Antiitari    ayi 
    Actinidia    chinensis 
    Fruit 
  
  
    2 
    Biiling 
    Choerospondias    axillaris 
    Fruit 
  
  
    3 
    Byako 
    Solanum    kurzi 
    Vegetable,    Medicine 
  
  
    4 
    Byako 
    Solanum    myricanthum 
    Fruit,    Medicine 
  
  
    5 
    Byapu 
    Phyllostachys    manii 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    6 
    Diiran    sankhan 
    Unidentified 
    Medicine    (berry) 
  
  
    7 
    Enging 
    Dioscorea    hamiltonii 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (tuber) 
  
  
    8 
    Giyang    hamang 
    Brassica    juncea var. rugosa 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    9 
    Hari    ayi 
    Elaeagnus    latifolia 
    Fruit 
  
  
    10 
    Harkhu    ayi 
    Actinidia    callosa 
    Fruit 
  
  
    11 
    Henchi 
    Rubus    niveus 
    Fruit 
  
  
    12 
    Hiigu    hamang 
    Oenanthe    javanica 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (leaf) 
  
  
    13 
    Hiika    hamang 
    Diplazium    esculentum 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    14 
    Hiipe 
    Elatostema    platyphyllum 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    15 
    Hiipe    hamang 
    Gonostegia    hirta 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    16 
    Hiiro    hamang 
    Solanum    nigrum 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (leaf) 
  
  
    17 
    Kheyi 
    Cinnamomum    verum 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    18 
    Lase 
    Dioscorea    bulbifera 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (tuber) 
  
  
    19 
    Mepi    hamang 
    Plantago    erosa 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    20 
    Ngiilyang    khiiko 
    Centella    asiatica 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (leaf) 
  
  
    21 
    Niiming 
    Unidentified 
    Others 
  
  
    22 
    Padii    hamang 
    Cardamine    hirsuta 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    23 
    Pato    hamang 
    Clerodendrum    colebrookianum, Clerodendrum glandulosum 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    24 
    Raru    hamang 
    Piper    pedicellatum 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (leaf) 
  
  
    25 
    Rhyiing    ayi 
    Unidentified 
    Fruit 
  
  
    26 
    Samo 
    Unidentified 
    Others 
  
  
    27 
    Sanko    ayi 
    Schefflera    elliptica 
    Fruit 
  
  
    28 
    Santero 
    Litsea    cubeba 
    Vegetable,    Medicine (fruit, leaf) 
  
  
    29 
    Siya    hamang 
    Houttuniya    cordata 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    30 
    Subutute 
    Duchesnea    indica 
    Fruit 
  
  
    31 
    Taro    ayi 
    Ficus    auriculata 
    Fruit 
  
  
    32 
    Tapyo*&** 
    Cyanthillium    cinereum, Dicranopteris linearis, Phragmites karka, Clerodendron    colebrokianum, Cirsium interopositum 
    Vegetable    (salt from leaf) 
  
  
    33 
    Tayi    hamang 
    Amaranthus    tricolor 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    34 
    Yakho    hamang 
    Acmella    paniculata 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    35 
    Baching    ayi* 
    Myrica    esculenta 
    Fruit 
  
  
    36 
    Hiyi* 
    Dry    bamboo shoot 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    37 
    Hiibyo    lima* 
    Hydrocotyle    javanica 
    Vegetable 
  
  
    38 
    Kiira    ayi* 
    Castanopsis    hystrix 
    Fruit 
  
  
    39 
    Kung    ayi* 
    Unidentified 
    Fruiting    body 
  
  
    40 
    Miiji* 
    Sageretia    filiformis 
    Medicine    (bark, stem) 
  
  
    41 
    Pecha* 
    Pyrus    pashia 
    Fruit 
  
  
    42 
    Riiko* 
    Gymnostemma    pedata 
    Medicine    (stem, root)



Table 1:  List of currently marketed (local and external or inter-region level), potentially marketable and meagre potential NTFPs used by Apatani. *marked products
are semi-processed and consumed or sold locally. **marked products are semi-processed and consumed or sold externally and unmarked products are consumed or
sold unprocessed or green.

From the overall picture given by Ziro valley residents about the origin to endpoint use of NTFPs it was evident that the value chains of such NTFPs could be distinguished into different stages like, Production/Extraction/Collection, Consumption and Marketing (Figure 3). Altogether 127 well recognized NTFPs were produced in forests, homegardens and field-bunds of the valley. They were categorized into food supplements (61), medicinal products (27), construction materials (09), fuel or energy products (07) and others (23). Almost all of these products were collected and consumed fresh or unprocessed, but some of them (17) were semi-processed or dried and consumed. Out of these, 55 products were sold in local markets and eight were transported and sold in external markets at different places, currently. On the basis of data analysis, all these 127 NTFPs could be categorized as marketable, potentially marketable and products with meagre potential. Some of them were found to be commercially important products also.

Figure 3: Value Chain of NTFPs in Ziro valley. I/C/C = Individual/Clan/ Community. *Includes salt making herbs. Numbers in the parentheses are minimum recorded NTFPs during the study.

    
    
    Figure 3:  Value Chain of NTFPs in Ziro valley. I/C/C = Individual/Clan/
Community. *Includes salt making herbs. Numbers in the parentheses are
minimum recorded NTFPs during the study.

Tribal communities (subsistence food gatherers and traditional healers) have been engaged in the collection of various NTFPs historically. While in the initial stage the collection was meant for self-consumption, later they started to extract more NTFPs for commercial purpose to meet their livelihood needs as a result of increased demand and urbanization [15,16]. Katewa [17] also reported that the Apatani tribe used a large number of wild NTFPs to meet their diverse requirement which was possible largely due to the prevalence of a diversity of vegetation in that area. They managed their forests while aiming directly at NTFP collection along with timber production. This was intended at maintaining health, vitality and social need. Simultaneously they were indirectly achieving environmental functions like carbon storage, nutrient cycling, erosion control and hydrological regulation [18,19].

Marketable Apatani NTFPs

There were 55 currently marketable NTFPs which were formally sold in the urban markets of the state (Antiitari ayi, Baching ayi, Biiling, Byako; S. kurzi, Byako; S. myricanthum etc.). Out of this, as many as eight (Ginseng, Nikhe, Paris, Eppane nanii, Tapyo, Taxus, Tiiming, and Yaso) were also sold outside the state. Another 41 important products were consumed by the Apatani but not sold in the markets at the time of data collection (Table 1). Occasionally they were shared or exchanged (Bije, Byukhu, Genda hamang, Giyang hamang, Hiibyo hamang, Imyo etc.) by the people among themselves. The key informants identified these 41 species as marketable products for the future with anticipated increase in production along with market demand. These 96 products could also be classified as high potential (08) and potential (47), and less potential (41) marketable products as they were in demand on an inter-regional, regional and local scale, respectively. The rest of the products had meagre potential due to their endemic use by the Apatani. However, all these products are responsible for economic development of the valley.

The role of NTFPs in the economic development of local communities, especially the tribals, has been addressed by many workers [3,20,21]. Several researchers [5,9-12] have given an account of NTFP use by Apatani but only Yakang et al. [9] reported the marketing potential of 18 species which could be used for socioeconomic development of the community. These species could be cultivated and managed in various systems, such as homegarden, community forests and agriculture. Fourteen species (Allium tuberosum, Cerasus cerasoides, Clerodendrum colebrookianum, C. glandulosum, Litsea cubeba, Magnolia champaca, Myrica esculenta, Phyllostachys manii, Piper pedicellatum, Pyrus pashia, Rubia manjith, Solanum kurzi, S. myriacanthum and Zanthoxylum armatum), out of 18 reported by them, are common to the present study.

Although NTFPs have attracted considerable interest as a basic component of sustainable development initiatives due to their ability to support and improve rural livelihood, large scale harvesting poses a serious threat of extermination to several popular species and continued supply of the product [22]. Therefore, before promotion of NTFP marketing, their conservation status must be borne in mind as many of them are currently facing different degree of vulnerability [14].

Commercially Important NTFPs

Importance of the NTFPs lies not only in their value or price but also the quantity of production. Commercial importance of selected species determined on the basis of data of their production and market price is presented in Table 2. Production wise ranking of the NTFPs was in the following order from higher to lower: Samper ayi >Salyo ayi >Hiipey hamang >Baching ayi >Byapu >Kung ayi >Biiling >Taro ayi >Mepi hamang >Siya hamang >Hiigu hamang >Padii hamang >Antiitari ayi >Hari ayi >Lase >Yaso > Tiiming (Rubia) >Raru hamang >Hiibyo hamang >Sanko ayi >Ngilyang khiko >Jiling ayi >Piirii >Paris >Yabing >Hiiro hamang >Semo ayi >Jojuru ayi >Hiika hamang >Pato hamang >Pecha >Kiira >Taaming >Henchi >Tarko >Giyang hamang >Riiko >Subutute >Hibiyo lima >Diiran sankhan >Haliyan >Hulu taro >Payinglamu hamang > Luli hamang. However, production of certain NTFPs like, Enging, Kheyi, Kiira ayi, Miiji, Niming, Rhiihingi ayi, Samo, Santero, Senko, Takung, Tapyo and Yorkhum was not ascertained due to lack of information. When the NTFPs were assessed on price ranking, the order was changed as follows: Paris>Riiko >Niming >Kiira >Subutute >Tapyo >Yorkhum >Byapu >Henchi >Salyo ayi >Tarko >Samper ayi >Kung ayi >Sanko ayi >Tiiming (Rubia)>Hiibyo hamang >Hibiyo lima >Diiran sankhan >Hiigu haman >Ngilyang khiko >Yabing >Yaso >Padii hamang >Kheyi >Hiiro hamang >Pato hamang >Hiipey hamang >Mepi hamang >Raru hamang >Antiitari ayi >Hari ayi >Kiira ayi >Miiji >Rhiihing ayi >Samo >Santero >Baching ayi >Senko >Siya hamang >Takung >Enging >Taaming >Lase >Biiling >Hiika hamang >Pecha >Taro ayi >Giyang hamang >Semo ayi. However, actual price of Haliyan, Hulu taro, Jiling ayi, Jojuru ayi, Luli hamang, Payinglamu hamang and Piirii could not be ascertained, again due to lack of information. Finally the index ranking (total value of the product = quantity times price) to find out the commercial importance of these NTFPs resulted in again following changed order: Samper ayi >Salyo ayi >Byapu >Kung ayi >Hiipey hamang >Baching ayi >Mepi hamang >Hiigu hamang >Biiling >Taro ayi >Siya hamang >Padii hamang >Paris >Hiibyo hamang >Sanko ayi >Yaso >Antiitari ayi >Hari ayi >Ngilyang khiko >Raru hamang >Lase >Yabing >Kiira >Riiko >Rubia (Tiiming) >Hiiro hamang >Pato hamang >Henchi >Tarko >Subutute >Hiika hamang >Hibiyo lima >Semo ayi >Pecha >Diiran sankhan >Taaming. Species like Enging, Giyang hamang, Haliyan, Hulu taro, Jiling ayi, Jojuru ayi, Kheyi, Kra ayi, Luli hamang, Miiji, Niming, Payinglamu hamang, Piirii, Rhiihing ayi, Samo, Santero, Senko, Takung, Tapyo and Yorkhum did not find place in the index since the price or quantity of these products were not available.

The above ranking indicated the degree of commercial importance of different species and therefore, their potential role in the economic uplift of society. But it is a matter of concern also since exposure to market pressures and opportunities is inescapably changing many subsistence-based use systems to market-oriented production systems with a clear loss of biodiversity [23-25]. The potential of NTFP commercialization to be effective as a tool for biodiversity conservation is limited. The main responses to increased market demand for NTFPs are inimical to biodiversity conservation in many situations [26]. As the demand of NTFPs increased, the pressure on the resources increased and sometimes reached the threshold of economic extinction. Therefore, to meet the extra demand, some NTFPs are required to be cultivated or domesticated, affecting a shift in natural resource dependence to the resource outside the forests [27].

On the other hand, commercialization of NTFPs enables rural dwellers and poor urban households to diversify their source of incomes, which contributes to their food security and reduces their level of poverty. It also increases the economic value of NTFPs thereby increasing the awareness and incentives for local communities to conserve many forest products [28]. Although, rapid commercialization potentially leads to overexploitation or depletion of such NTFP [29], it has the potential to ensure the long term conservation of these plants (wild food and medicinal plants) due to the fact that people start seeing them as being of great value and therefore, they get more protection than non-valued species [30].

Marketing channels of Apatani NTFPs

The level, size and number of marketing channels determine the value chain of the NTFPs being sourced from the valley people. The length of the channel or the width of the network of markets for a particular product reflects on the value added and the benefits accruing to different channel members. The current information indicated that all the NTFPs collected in Ziro valley were traded from/at Hapoli, market channel level I. Some quantity of the NTFPs was consumed in and around Hapoli area and the remaining quantity was traded at Itanagar and Lakhimpur, market channel level II. There was lateral supply to Naharlagun and Passighat markets, respectively from these two collection centers. After local consumption, still some quantity was exported from Itanagar to Guwahati, Channel level III market. The Guwahati agents further exported them to Kolkata and Delhi, channel level IV markets (Figure 4). One product, Tiiming, was reported to be sent to Ahmedabad. Most of the products (Table 1; locally and externally marketed) were sold in level I and level II markets where very few traders were involved and the benefit was limited. Beyond this point selected products (Table 1; externally marketed) were sold in level III and IV markets, enhancing the benefit to the traders marginally.

Figure 4: Different markets for the NTFPs produced in Ziro valley. Each level indicates involvement of additional intermediaries or agents.

    
    
    Figure 4:  Different markets for the NTFPs produced in Ziro valley. Each level
indicates involvement of additional intermediaries or agents.

The local trade and corresponding markets tend to be informal with relatively short, although not necessarily simple, value chains in many situations. Sometimes the same individuals perform all functions along the value chain from harvesting to final sales, while in other cases intermediate wholesalers, processors and traders may provide the link to consumers [31]. The marketing channels of the most Apatani NTFPs were very short and simple. Mostly unprocessed NTFPs were sold in the market by the harvester, possibly due to (i) fresh consumption as cultural practice (ii) lower demand in the external market (iii) quicker need of income etc. The norm of raw product consumption needed to be modified [27] as processing of NTFPs helps add value to the products, reduces the urgency to sell, improves bargaining power, reduces transportation cost etc. This might lead to the enhancement of financial benefit to local people [32,33]. However, a few products, which were processed and had their shelf-life enhanced, had longer marketing channels. These products reached a larger number of consumers but benefit was distributed among the intermediaries not the valley people. This is because there exist exploitative relations between producers and marketers and the bulk of profits from NTFPs accumulating far up the marketing chain from the collectors [29]. The potential cause could be the informal nature of markets where producers remain ignorant of vital information (pricing structure, availability of substitute, quality requirement and consumer preferences; [34]) along the value chain. Therefore, the promotion of marketing of quality products from the valley needed to be enhanced on a larger scale and the market network also needed to be strengthened.

Value addition of Apatani NTFPs

Most of the NTFPs were harvested and used fresh by the valley populace, especially food supplements and herbal medicines. Some of the fruits and vegetables were sent to the market for sale and were consumed by the urban population of Hapoli on a daily basis. The construction materials were stored for a very short period just before the commencement of house construction. Therefore, value addition to most of the NTFPs was not practiced in general. Other than green consumption, dried NTFPs (Baching ayi, Byako, Hiyi=dry Bamboo shoot, Hiibyo lima, Kiira ayi, Kung ayi, Miiji, Nikhe, Pecha, Piitta ayi, Riiko, Salyo, Samper, Santero, Sati, Tarko, Yabing and Yorkhum) were also consumed by the rural Apatani population. Drying was done primarily for storage purpose. A few NTFPs were powdered and stored in wooden/bamboo vessels. Grading was practiced only to the cleaning level in some of the NTFPs (Salyo, Samper) to remove unwanted dirt from the lot collected in bulk. Processing was adopted in very limited NTFPs like Lyobyo, Pinging etc. which were used to make a local salt called Tapyo. Dried Riiko was smoked, powdered and stored in a bamboo vessel. Tiiming stem or root was also dried properly before storage to protect it from fungal attack and degradation. Use of any commercial branding and packaging was not practiced for almost any of the Apatani products. Only fermented bamboo shoots were stored in used plastic bottles and dry bamboo shoots in polythene bags without the use of any brand name.

In most cases farmers were using simple technology for collection and preprocessing (storage) and were often not involved in processing or distribution which resulted in low returns [35]. However, raw product marketing had the advantage of low investment capital and direct access to the consumer (without any facilitator) both resulting in good returns. But processed or value added products have the benefit of potentially higher returns owing to their enhanced shelflife, access to a larger network of markets and consumers of high purchase power. The value can also be increased by sorting produce by quality grades or by performing simple value addition operations such as separation of impurities, pulverizing, powdering and making tablets and so on [27]. Establishing food processing units could be very useful for making pickle, jam and jelly like products from Apatani raw materials procured in the form of wild fruits which are believed to be of high nutrient value (Kuru Ama Pers. Comm). Juice drinks, fruit roll-up or fruit leather etc. could also be produced through forest based small scale enterprises which may also be able to neutralize the impact of big business, generally, taking away most of the benefit from the producers. Bamboo shoot and Tapyo which are already established commercial products could be given appropriate branding and packaging to add value and promote them among a wider range of customers.

The positioning of the product in the market could be one of the important strategies for Apatani products as it has some attributes, for example, natural, native, traditional, sustainable, herbal, heritage etc., which the modern customer values since it reconnects with something not available easily and everywhere. A brand could be created based on these valuable attributes with an aim to enhance the commercial value of the products. On the line of “Arkiset Aromit” of Finland [36] “Apatani Flavours” or “Heritage Flavours” could be created by promoting wild value and health benefit.

Value chains of Apatani NTFPs

Ziro-origin NTFPs were sold in the local village markets as well as the urban market of Hapoli, district headquarter of Lower Subansiri, which was a central point for inflow of products from different villages. Some of the common products, as told by the key informants and seen during the survey, were Sanii tero, Hiika hamang, Yorkhum, Riiko, Padii hamang, Siya hamang, Hiipe hamang, Salyo, Samper, Hiyi, fresh bamboo shoots, mushroom etc. (Table 2), though this composition varied in two different seasons. These products were sold by a group of vendors in an organized place or by isolated vendors in the streets. Major buyers from them were the Apatani in addition to immigrated population. Some of the informants revealed that select products were collected by the agents from harvesters and taken to the state capital Itanagar and the nearby town of Naharlagun, where many Apatani were settled. Such products were Bamboo shoots (Bije, Bipu, Toh, Yabin), Ginseng, Hika hamang, Paris, Pato hamang, Raru hamang, Salyo ayi, Samper, Santero, Siya hamang, Tiire, Taamin, Tiiming, Yaso, Yorkhum, etc. Lakhimpur was another market in the bordering State Assam where few Ziro valley products were collected for further transport to Guwahati. Some products were transported to Pasighat, another market place in Arunanchal Pradesh for local consumption. However, business at Lakhimpur market place was waning owing to two major reasons: one - new, shorter and convenient route from Itanagar/Naharlagun to Guwahati and two - deterioration in local business conditions especially for the outsiders or non-Assamese who were the main business agents for Apatani products. Agents in Guwahati dispatched the products to Kolkata or Delhi markets of NTFPs. Main products for these markets (Ginseng, Nikhe, Paris, Taxus, Tiiming and Yaso) were not processed before reaching the destination. However, same products of non-Apatani origin were supplied in these markets from Tejpur, Siliguri and Nepalganj also. Tiiming, which yields dye in addition to some medicine component, traveled far to the textile market of Ahmedabad. The schematic representation of movement of NTFPs from the villages of Ziro valley to urban centers or sale points is depicted in Figure 4.

Table 2: Commercially important NTFPs of Ziro valley based on estimated annual production and price.




  
    SN 
    NTFP    (Apatani names) 
    Price    (INR) 
    Quantity    kg per annum 
    Total    value (INR) 
    NTFP    (Apatani names) 
    Price    (INR) 
    Quantity    kg per annum 
    Total    value (INR) 
  
  
    1 
    Antiitari    ayi 
    50 
    5000 
    250000 
    Paris    polyphylla 
    2000 
    1000 
    2000000 
  
  
    2 
    Baching    ayi 
    40 
    30000 
    1200000 
    Padii    hamang 
    80 
    5000 
    400000 
  
  
    3 
    Biiling 
    20 
    20000 
    400000 
    Pato    hamang 
    70 
    600 
    42000 
  
  
    4 
    Byapu 
    200 
    25000 
    5000000 
    Payinglamu    hamang 
    na 
    100 
    na 
  
  
    5 
    Diiran    sankhan 
    100 
    100 
    10000 
    Pecha 
    20 
    500 
    10000 
  
  
    6 
    Enging 
    30 
    na 
    na 
    Piirii 
    na 
    2000 
    na 
  
  
    7 
    Giyang    hamang 
    10 
    150 
    1500 
    Raru    hamang 
    60 
    3000 
    180000 
  
  
    8 
    Haliyan 
    na 
    100 
    na 
    Rhiihing    ayi 
    50 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    9 
    Hari    ayi 
    50 
    5000 
    250000 
    Riiko 
    750 
    100 
    75000 
  
  
    10 
    Henchi 
    200 
    200 
    40000 
    Salyo    ayi 
    200 
    45000 
    9000000 
  
  
    11 
    Hibiyo    lima 
    125 
    100 
    12500 
    Samo 
    50 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    12 
    Hiibyo    hamang 
    150 
    2500 
    375000 
    Samper    ayi 
    180 
    55000 
    9900000 
  
  
    13 
    Hiigu    hamang 
    100 
    5000 
    500000 
    Sanko    ayi 
    175 
    2000 
    350000 
  
  
    14 
    Hiika    hamang 
    20 
    700 
    14000 
    Santero 
    50 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    15 
    Hiipey    hamang 
    60 
    30000 
    1800000 
    Semo    ayi 
    10 
    1000 
    10000 
  
  
    16 
    Hiiro    hamang 
    70 
    1000 
    70000 
    Senko 
    40 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    17 
    Hulu    taro 
    na 
    100 
    na 
    Siya    hamang 
    40 
    10000 
    400000 
  
  
    18 
    Jiling    ayi 
    na 
    2000 
    na 
    Subutute 
    300 
    100 
    30000 
  
  
    19 
    Jojuru    ayi 
    na 
    1000 
    na 
    Taaming 
    30 
    250 
    7500 
  
  
    20 
    Kheyi 
    75 
    na 
    na 
    Taku 
    50 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    21 
    Kiira 
    400 
    250 
    100000 
    Takung 
    35 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    22 
    Kra    ayi 
    50 
    na 
    na 
    Tapyo 
    250 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    23 
    Kung    ayi 
    175 
    25000 
    4375000 
    Tarko 
    200 
    150 
    30000 
  
  
    24 
    Lase 
    25 
    4000 
    100000 
    Taro    ayi 
    20 
    20000 
    400000 
  
  
    25 
    Luli    hamang 
    na 
    20 
    na 
    Tiiming 
    150 
    3500 
    525000 
  
  
    26 
    Mepi    hamang 
    60 
    10000 
    600000 
    Yabing 
    100 
    1000 
    100000 
  
  
    27 
    Miiji 
    50 
    na 
    na 
    Yaso 
    100 
    3000 
    300000 
  
  
    28 
    Ngilyang    khiko 
    100 
    2000 
    200000 
    Yorkhum 
    215 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    29 
    Niming 
    450 
    na 
    na 
  
  
    na = not    available



Table 2:  Commercially important NTFPs of Ziro valley based on estimated annual production and price.

The flow of Apatani products from origin (Ziro valley) to last consumption point (Delhi) through intermediaries is given in Figure 5. The movement of green products was restricted to intrastate markets. They were consumed in Ziro, Hapoli, Itanagar Naharlagun and Pasighat (well number 1, 2, 3). Similarly, some dry products were also consumed in these markets (well number 4, 5, 6) but their movement further extended beyond the state and covered interstate markets as well (well number 7, 8, 9). These green (unprocessed) and dry (semi-processed) products are recorded in Table 1 which could be read with the wells in Figure 5. During the present study only short value chain of the products involving intrastate markets was studied. The price spread of commonly available products at level I and Level II markets are given in Table 3. This showed that variation in the price outside the valley is 21% to 100% (average increase 55%) which included transport expenditure and profit over buying price. This margin increased when the products were purchased in bulk since the bulk-sale price was always lower than the retail price given in the table. Therefore, the actual price spread will also increase in the case of wholesaling of the product which was around 15% at Hapoli (Taku Taga, Pers. Comm.).

Figure 5: Shows the movement of NTFPs from origin to different markets. Circles are the consumption wells and hexagons are the storage and supply wells. Solid arrows show the movement route of Apatani products while dashed arrows show the movement of same products but fed from different sources.

    
    
    Figure 5:  Shows the movement of NTFPs from origin to different markets. Circles are the consumption wells and hexagons are the storage and supply wells. Solid
arrows show the movement route of Apatani products while dashed arrows show the movement of same products but fed from different sources.

Table 3: Price spread (INR) of some common short chain NTFPs in 2014-15.




  
    SN 
    NTFPs 
    Retail    price at origin (Hapoli) 
    Retail    price for consumer Outside valley 
    Price    spread (INR) 
    Increase    over origin price (%) 
  
  
    Naharlagun 
    Itanagar 
    Average 
  
  
    1 
    Baching 
    40 
    60 
    60 
    60 
    20 
    50 
  
  
    2 
    Byako 
    60 
    100 
    100 
    100 
    40 
    67 
  
  
    3 
    Byapu 
    200 
    300 
    300 
    300 
    100 
    50 
  
  
    4 
    Engin 
    30 
    50 
    60 
    55 
    25 
    83 
  
  
    5 
    Ginseng 
    1500 
    na 
    2500 
    2500 
    1000 
    67 
  
  
    6 
    Higu    hamang 
    100 
    150 
    150 
    150 
    50 
    50 
  
  
    7 
    Hiika    hamang 
    20 
    40 
    30 
    35 
    15 
    75 
  
  
    8 
    Kiira    ayi 
    50 
    70 
    80 
    75 
    25 
    50 
  
  
    9 
    Ngliyang    khiko 
    100 
    150 
    150 
    150 
    50 
    50 
  
  
    10 
    Paris 
    2000 
    na 
    2500 
    2500 
    500 
    25 
  
  
    11 
    Pato    hamang 
    70 
    90 
    100 
    95 
    25 
    36 
  
  
    12 
    Raru    hamang 
    60 
    90 
    110 
    100 
    40 
    67 
  
  
    13 
    Salyo    ayi 
    200 
    250 
    250 
    250 
    50 
    25 
  
  
    14 
    Samper 
    180 
    250 
    300 
    275 
    95 
    53 
  
  
    15 
    Santero 
    50 
    70 
    80 
    75 
    25 
    50 
  
  
    16 
    Siya    hamang 
    40 
    60 
    60 
    60 
    20 
    50 
  
  
    17 
    Tapyo 
    250 
    350 
    350 
    350 
    100 
    40 
  
  
    18 
    Tayi    hamang 
    50 
    100 
    100 
    100 
    50 
    100 
  
  
    19 
    Tiiming 
    150 
    300 
    300 
    300 
    150 
    100 
  
  
    20 
    Yorkhung 
    215 
    250 
    270 
    260 
    45 
    21 
  
  
    na = not    available



Table 3:  Price spread (INR) of some common short chain NTFPs in 2014-15.

Proper marketing is a crucial element of NTFP commerce. Appropriate identification, documentation, systematic collection and improved storage facility were necessary for suitable marketing channels [37,38]. However, all the markets involved in Apatani products, either short chain (local markets) or long chain (regional markets) were informal in nature where the sellers were trading through bilateral bargaining. There was no transparency in business and quality assurance of the product was also lacking [39]. Contrary to the formal market system, there was no control over the method and quantity of harvesting resulting into unsustainable harvesting [40]. Therefore, introduction of a formal marketing system may not only regulate the pricing system resulting in benefits to the producers but also ensure the ecological health of the resource [38], as has been pointed out by [39] so that people are motivated to use the resources sustainably when economic value get attached to that.

The study of longer value chain involving interstate markets was left out due to some constraints, primarily long distances (Figure 6), heavy resource and time involvement. Nevertheless, traders at Lakhimpur market, which was the major hub of Apatani products before opening of Itanagar and Naharlagun markets, informed that the trade route had gradually shifted from Ziro-Lakhimpur-Guwahati to Ziro-Itanagar-Guwahati. However, the business was waning but not completely wiped out as some products in low quantity were still coming in. The products like Tiiming, Yaso, broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima) and large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) were being collected from Ziro-agents and forwarded to Guwahatiagents at 20-30% margin of profit. The production of Tiiming and Yaso was declining and it was possible that trade in these two products may end very soon. This was in consonance with the information provided by key informants at Ziro valley that production of large cardamom, good quality cane and Tiiming was decreasing in the forests. Lakhimpur traders also informed that after temporary storage in the warehouses, products were further forwarded to Kolkata and Delhi regularly, and to Ahmadabad and Chennai occasionally. Same products from different regions were also fed in at Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi via Tejpur, Siliguri and Nepalganj, respectively. It was also informed by the traders that the price of the products kept increasing at all these market points due to inclusion of transport costs and margin of profit at each point.

Figure 6: Showing the distances of markets of Apatani product starting from Ziro valley. Boxes with broken outline are the interstate markets.

    
    
    Figure 6:  Showing the distances of markets of Apatani product starting from
Ziro valley. Boxes with broken outline are the interstate markets.

Belcher and Schreckenberg [32] described the NTFPs value chains of certain activities like NTFPs production /collection, transport, storage, processing, marketing and sale. Longer chains may have all these components while shorter ones might lack a few. Nevertheless, this enabled households to have ready access to the products that they would otherwise have to buy. This also offered income enhancement and employment opportunities [42]. The value chain of NTFPs practiced by Apatani tribe in Ziro valley could also be broken into similar steps such as, production, collection, storage, value addition, transport, marketing for local consumption and local and external sale for outside users (Figure 3). This was associated with commercialization of products intended to improve the livelihood of local people. However, commercialization lead to sustainability issues, as is the case currently with a few species. Nevertheless, the valley dwellers have already started practicing an alternate system of production -- homegardening [14].

Problems and Impacts on NTFP resources

Couple of market places, short and long chain products are presented in Figure 7 and 8. Most of the short chain products like vegetables and fruits (Hiibyo hamang, Raru hamang, Tai hamang, Jojuru ayi, Salyo ayi, Samper ayi, Sanko ayi etc.) had very little shelf value. Additional markets for such products were fairly distant from the source -- 100 to 125 km which made direct disposal by the producer almost impossible. This was further accentuated by poor transport facility. Spoilage and wastage of such products was inevitable for want of storage and processing units. Babalola [43] also agreed that NTFP marketing was challenged by lack of storage facility and poor transportation along with price fluctuation and middlemen exploitation.

Figure 7: Short chain products sold in intrastate markets. Left to right Top row: Informal markets at Hapoli and Naharlagun, Middle row: Unprocessed products Harkhu ayi and Siya hamang, Bottom row: Semi-processed products Dry and Fermented Bamboo shoot.

    
    
    Figure 7:  Short chain products sold in intrastate markets. Left to right Top
row: Informal markets at Hapoli and Naharlagun, Middle row: Unprocessed
products Harkhu ayi and Siya hamang, Bottom row: Semi-processed
products Dry and Fermented Bamboo shoot.

Figure 8: Long chain products sold in Interstate markets. Left to right Top row: Plant of Paris and Rhizome of Ginseng, Middle row: Palm grass wrapped Tapyo and Taxus plant, Bottom row: Eppane nanii and Yaso.

    
    
    Figure 8:  Long chain products sold in Interstate markets. Left to right
Top row: Plant of Paris and Rhizome of Ginseng, Middle row: Palm grass
wrapped Tapyo and Taxus plant, Bottom row: Eppane nanii and Yaso.

The key informants revealed that harvesting techniques and tools in certain cases were not proper. In the case of Samper and Salyo fruits were collected earlier from the ground but this method of collection has changed in past few years. Either trees are felled or branches are hacked to get maximum and easy harvesting to meet increased demand. The market pressure gets reflected on Paris and Rubia also as these have been heavily extracted beyond recovery. Therefore, careful collection and extraction (only mature products) and use of better equipment and tools like, ladder and climber, can increase long run productivity and assure sustainability [35].

From a biodiversity perspective the impact of trade is ambiguous. Trade results in declining abundance of goods that are exploited for export to the outside market. Market value, exploitation technology and the life history characteristics of the exportable goods together determine whether a species is exploited to local extinction or not. Empirical evidence suggested that few wild resources can sustain commercial exploitation and the trade results in either local extinction or domestication of species of exploitable goods [44-46]. A few key resource persons pointed out that the bulk of business in the sale of NTFPs has increased to meet internal as well as external demands of Ziro valley products during last three decades. They also expressed the concern of continued supply of the product to the market and thereby economic sustainability. This was corroborated by the respondents of questionnaire survey that availability status of some species had become scarce. At the same time the availability trend of certain species had also decreased. Such species identified by them with scarce availability status were Bukhe, Hiibin, Imyo, Jojuru ayi, Khung, More taku, Pabo kormo ayi, Payinglamu hamang, Payu, Pumi haman, Sanchi, Santotero, Santutaki, Taku ayi and with decreasing availability trend were Antiitari ayi, Ayopakhe haman, Biiling, Diiran sankhan, Henchi, Hiibin, Hiibyo hamang, Imyo, Jojuru ayi, Khung, Kukulyu, More taku, Ngilyang khiiko, Niming, Pachu koyu, Payu, Raru hamang, Salyo ayi, Samper ayi, Sanko ayi, Santi, Tai hamang, Tapang, Yaso. After combining these two parameters, the availability trend and availability status, the products like Hiibin, Imyo, Jojuru ayi, Khung, More taku, Payu, fell in a new category like high vulnerability towards conservation. This raised the issue of identifying the reasons and need of immediate conservation of such products in the valley.

It is a well-established fact that low intensity extraction of NTFP from a natural forest can have a low impact on the local ecology and biodiversity at the landscape and the species level. But, on the contrary, as harvesting and management intensity increase the negative impact is higher which could be the result of higher product demand, better markets and improved infrastructure [26]. It is also a reality that most of the high valued NTFPs are collected without paying attention to the quality and quantity of harvested material. Being the least benefiting groups, collectors often tend to harvest more than the harvestable quantity to get more money. Similarly, competition among collectors compels them to collect NTFPs prematurely, resulting in their gradual disappearance [47].

Conclusion and Recommendation

The current marketing practices and proposed improvement in marketing strategy is depicted in Figure 9. This is based on the following principles and practices:

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Citation: Kaushalendra Kumar Jha. Some Marketing Aspects of Important Non-Timber Forest Products in a Proposed UNESCO Heritage Site of Arunanchal Pradesh, India. J Plant Chem and Ecophysiol. 2016; 1(1): 1007. ISSN: 2572-4371

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