The Kendu Leaf Trade: Problems & Prospects in Orissa - Vasundhara

this has actually not been successfully ensured as smugglers have taken advantage of the closure.
Unwanted rains sometimes result in the damage of the leaf quality of an entire area. Further,
climatic changes and loss of KL growing areas to development projects, etc. also account for the
reduction in quality.
However, the KL wing cannot be allowed to get excuses for its negligence that affects the sale of
leaves. The lackadaisical approach of the authorities is reflected in the fact that whereas the
KLCC in 2004 advised the Additional P.C.C.F.(KL) to investigate the fire related damages, the
minutes of the meeting for 2005 crop year do not even mention any follow up action in this
regard. Similarly, the cost norm is approved every year; but the achievements corresponding to
the same are not analysed in the following year. The Committee decided in 2005 that all efforts
would be made to reduce the fixed costs further during the said year, but there was no mention to
the achievements in this regard in the minutes of the meeting held in the following year(2006).If
such a high level committee functions just for formality, then how can the agencies responsible
for production and sale be monitored properly
Sale is controlled from Bhubaneswar although from business point of view Sambalpur is actually
the most feasible place for this purpose for all the stakeholders. It is said that to check corruption
(manipulation by local traders), Sambalpur was not preferred; but an impartial enquiry would
reveal that this decision has not proved very beneficial to the government’s (OFDC’s) marketing
capability. A simple example is that to get purchase rights over phal leaves in the Khariar KL
Division, the trader has to travel a long and uncomfortable distance to Bhubaneswar, that too
without an guarantee that he would receive a proper and fair dealing in the matter. Would he be
interested for this if he gets a better alternative in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh state There
should be periodical review of decisions like this on the basis of sound statistical data so that it
can be confirmed if the decision has actually met its objective.
Media reports repeatedly allege that some field level officers are actually spending more time at
Bhubaneswar as a result of which the field activities are being neglected, affecting the
production. Sincere officers of old times also believe that their modern counterparts are having
more facilities, but are less sincere and more opportunistic in attitude. Of course, this is not true
for all the staff; but how many officers have achieved the kind of credit, which one DFO
achieved in the Khariar Division in the 1990s by making the leaves of his Division better
saleable Although this officer got transferred from Khariar in due course of time, his
achievements are still proving highly beneficial for that Division. In fact, his achievement shows
that much can be done at the level of production so as to ensure better sale prices for the leaves.
The KL task force recommended that grading of leaves into various classes should directed by
market requirements, and that OFDC should conduct periodical market surveys to ascertain what
kind of quality composition market prefers. Of late, government has commissioned a market
study on KL through Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. The results of this study are
yet to come(June 2006).However, the recommendation of the task force should also be extended
to the nature of lots in terms of their volume/weight. Because, some bidi manufacturers in and
outside Orissa prefer our processed lots, but they are not comfortable with the limitations of the
sales procedures. For instance, each bag contains 12 bundles each of 5 kg weight; but some
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