Odisha Sets National Benchmark with First Women-Led Commercial Trade of Sal Seeds

Bhubaneswar: In a first for India, the state of Odisha has successfully completed a formal, women-led commercial trade of Sal seeds (Shorea robusta) — a significant milestone in the transformation of the country’s forest-based economy. Tribal women, through newly formed producer companies, have not only taken charge of the procurement process but also led the first structured sale of 38 metric tonnes of Sal seeds to a global buyer, setting a new standard for non-timber forest produce (NTFP) governance.

The seeds were procured by five Green Shakti Producer Companies (GSPCs) — Manaya, Duarsuni, Gandhamardana, Mendadongri, and Sunamanjari — and sold to AAK India, a key global player in natural ingredients, at ₹29 per kilogram. Facilitated by supply chain partner FarMart, the trade signals a turning point in the way Sal seeds — once sold through informal, exploitative networks — are now entering formal markets through transparent, women-led systems.

Traditionally undervalued despite their high commercial use in food and cosmetic industries, Sal seeds are one of Odisha’s most abundant and economically promising forest products. This landmark transaction, led by tribal women in forest-fringe areas, brings dignity and real income into a trade long dominated by middlemen. The GSPCs purchased the seeds directly from forest collectors, eliminating intermediaries and offering competitive prices, boosting earnings for hundreds of tribal households.

The five GSPCs, all recently incorporated and governed by tribal women, operate across six key forested districts — Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri. With support from the Department of Mission Shakti and technical guidance from the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business (ISB), the companies have been made fully compliant with GST regulations, trained in procurement processes, and equipped with functioning bank accounts — enabling them to engage in formal trade at scale.

The focus on Sal seed value chains forms part of a larger vision under Subhadra Shakti and Viksit Bharat, aiming to empower tribal women economically while ensuring sustainable use of forest resources. The leadership curriculum designed by ISB has played a crucial role in building the capacity of these women-led boards, with training focused specifically on managing procurement cycles for forest products like Sal seeds, market negotiation, and quality assurance.

Hiramoni Marandi, President of Duarsuni Green Shakti Producer Company, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida for their consistent support through training and financial incentives like the Subhadra incentive, which she credited for helping her company scale up operations.

FarMart’s role in offering upfront working capital enabled timely aggregation and delivery of Sal seeds to the buyer, while local women aggregators ensured consistent quality and ethical sourcing. In many parts of the state, where formal procurement of Sal seeds never existed, this intervention has created structured markets and improved local pricing.

Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director at ISB’s Bharti Institute of Public Policy, hailed the initiative as a pioneering model in forest-based enterprise, stating, “Odisha has shown how Sal seeds — often overlooked in formal trade — can become the backbone of a women-led, sustainable rural economy when backed by the right ecosystem.”