Herbal Natural Colours prepared from flowers in Indore, production by Forest Department after 3 years again in 2021
This Holi getting herbal will be easier as Indoreans can buy natural herbal colours this year prepared by forest department! After three years, the department will resume production of natural herbal colours this year.
Demand for herbal i.e. natural color has increased in the markets in the last couple of years. After coronavirus outbreak, people have been opting for healthier lifestyle options including organic items.
Hence, the demand for organic herbal colours is bound to rise. To meet this demand, forest department finally has preparation of the same on cards this year.
After three years of shutting down the production of herbal colours, Forest Department plans to make herbal colors from the flowers of Tesu.
The department has set a target of making three to five quintals of colours. The earnings from the sale of colours will be deposited in the accounts of the committee.
Previous productions in 2016 & 2017
In 2016 and 2017, the forest department had produced and sold natural colours (herbal colours) in Choral area.
The department had prepared just five thousand packets in the first year. From the sale of same, around 15 to 17 thousand rupees were earned. This amount was deposited in the accounts of the Forest Committee.
Later, the same amount was remunerated to villagers. Back then, packets of red, pink, yellow, orange colours were prepared.
In the first year, one packet was priced at Rs 10. Looking at the rising demand, the department produced ten thousand packets in 2017.
In 2017, collecting flowers of Palash was completed 20 days in advance to meet production schedule. Drying the flowers and grinding them was done in Choral range.
The price of the packet was increased to Rs 15. In 2017, the department earned forty thousand rupees through colours made from Tesu flowers.
But in 2018 and 2019, the authorities did not show interest in making herbal colours. Due to this, the flowers of the Tesu were not collected from the forests. Last year, the authorities did not make herbal colours citing the spread of coronavirus.
Staff not interested
Even though the Indore forest department is preparing a plan to make herbal colours, interest from staff members is dull.
According to officials, flowers will be collected from the forests of Choral, Mhow and Manpur. After this, flowers will be crushed in a machine fitted in the choral. From here, small packets of colours will be made with the help of villagers.
After this, the senior officials of the forest division will decide the price.
Packets of Vindhya Herbal
Vindhya herbal, a unit of MP State Minor Forest Produce (Trade & Development) Cooperative Federation, also produces and sells herbal colour.
As a result, the forest division is less interested in making its own packets.
According to sources, the preparation of the packets of the department affects the sales of Vindhya Herbal.
It is said that due to this, the Indore Forest Division has not prepared colours at its level since 2018.
Meeting to form committees for collection soon
“Preparations are in process to prepare herbal colours this year on district level as well. Soon, we will be calling the meeting of the range officers to form committees so that we can begin collection of flowers. Further, we will set targets to prepare the colour before Dhulandi and Rang Panchami.”
AK Srivastava
Sub-Divisional Officer
Indore Forest Division
Demand for herbal i.e. natural color has increased in the markets in the last couple of years. After coronavirus outbreak, people have been opting for healthier lifestyle options including organic items.
Hence, the demand for organic herbal colours is bound to rise. To meet this demand, forest department finally has preparation of the same on cards this year.
After three years of shutting down the production of herbal colours, Forest Department plans to make herbal colors from the flowers of Tesu.
The department has set a target of making three to five quintals of colours. The earnings from the sale of colours will be deposited in the accounts of the committee.
Previous productions in 2016 & 2017
In 2016 and 2017, the forest department had produced and sold natural colours (herbal colours) in Choral area.
The department had prepared just five thousand packets in the first year. From the sale of same, around 15 to 17 thousand rupees were earned. This amount was deposited in the accounts of the Forest Committee.
Later, the same amount was remunerated to villagers. Back then, packets of red, pink, yellow, orange colours were prepared.
In the first year, one packet was priced at Rs 10. Looking at the rising demand, the department produced ten thousand packets in 2017.
In 2017, collecting flowers of Palash was completed 20 days in advance to meet production schedule. Drying the flowers and grinding them was done in Choral range.
The price of the packet was increased to Rs 15. In 2017, the department earned forty thousand rupees through colours made from Tesu flowers.
But in 2018 and 2019, the authorities did not show interest in making herbal colours. Due to this, the flowers of the Tesu were not collected from the forests. Last year, the authorities did not make herbal colours citing the spread of coronavirus.
Staff not interested
Even though the Indore forest department is preparing a plan to make herbal colours, interest from staff members is dull.
According to officials, flowers will be collected from the forests of Choral, Mhow and Manpur. After this, flowers will be crushed in a machine fitted in the choral. From here, small packets of colours will be made with the help of villagers.
After this, the senior officials of the forest division will decide the price.
Packets of Vindhya Herbal
Vindhya herbal, a unit of MP State Minor Forest Produce (Trade & Development) Cooperative Federation, also produces and sells herbal colour.
As a result, the forest division is less interested in making its own packets.
According to sources, the preparation of the packets of the department affects the sales of Vindhya Herbal.
It is said that due to this, the Indore Forest Division has not prepared colours at its level since 2018.
Meeting to form committees for collection soon
“Preparations are in process to prepare herbal colours this year on district level as well. Soon, we will be calling the meeting of the range officers to form committees so that we can begin collection of flowers. Further, we will set targets to prepare the colour before Dhulandi and Rang Panchami.”
AK Srivastava
Sub-Divisional Officer
Indore Forest Division