Honey and beeswax
Honey forms a natural nutritious food for rural people. Also, it is used widely for medicinal purposes. Two species of bees, Apis dorsata (rock bee) and Apis indica (Indian bee) produce honey. The former is wild in the montane and submontane regions throughout India. It is a good honey gatherer and a single comb may yield up to 35 kg of honey and 1 kg of wax. The latter is amenable to domestication, but it is not a good honey gatherer. The yield per hive ranges from 3 to 13 kg of honey in the hills and 3 to 8 kg in the plains (Gupta 1994).
About 250 tonnes of rock bee honey and 98 tonnes of Indian bee honey are produced annually. At a price of Rs40/kg, the total value of honey produced is Rs139 million. Beeswax is used in the manufacture of furniture and floor polishes, dressing and waterproofing of leather goods. It is also an ingredient in shoe polish, cosmetics, lipstick and face cream. About 28 tonnes of wax are produced annually, valued at approximately Rs1.6 million (Gupta 1994).
Other non-edible animal products
Lac from the insect Laccifer lacca (commonly known as shellac) is used presently for various purposes in plastics, electrical supplies, adhesives, leather, wood finishing, printing, polish and varnish, ink and other industries. It is also the principal ingredient of sealing wax. Two main strains of the lac insect are recognized: rangeeni and kusumi. The rangeeni crop is raised on several host plants, the most important being Butea monosperma and Zizyphus mauritiana. The kusumi strain is raised on Schleichera oleosa. Both strains produce two crops per year. Lac is collected in two forms, ari and phunki. The former is cut from the host plant and the latter is collected from the brood lac, after being used for inoculation. The lac is then sold as such or freed from the sticks and then sold. The lac removed from the sticks is known commercially as sticklack (Gupta 1994).
The annual production of sticklack is about 14 500 to 20 000 tonnes and the price varies from Rs4 500 to 16 000/tonne (most of the produce sells at around Rs14 000/tonne). The total value of the annual production is Rs203 million to Rs280 million (Gupta 1994).
India produces four kinds of silk: mulberry, tassar, muga and eri. The silkworm Bombyx mori is fed on mulberry leaves cultivated in plantations. Silkworms are also found wild on forest trees, e.g Antheraea paphia which produces the tassar silk. Antheraea paphia feeds on several trees such as Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia tomentosa, T. arjuna, Lagerstroemia parviflora and Madhuca indica. Wild silkworm Antheraea assamensis produces muga silk, and another wild silkworm Philosamia synthia ricini produces eri silk. The estimated annual production of tassar silk is 130 tonnes. Production of other types of silk exceeds 10 000 tonnes (Gupta 1994).
Other NWFP of animal origin in India include horns, peacock tails and wings, feathers, waste from the bristles and hair of pigs, hogs and boars.
Other NWFP
NWFP of mineral origin in India include garnet, granite, limestone, mica, pumice, sandstone (crude or roughly trimmed) and sandstone merely cut by saw and slate.
REFERENCES
Gupta, B. N. 1994. India. In Non-wood forest products in Asia. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Jha, L.K. 1996. Forestry for rural development, pp 11 and 16. New Delhi, APH Publishing Corporation.
Poffenberger, M. 1994. Non-timber products and tenure in India. Considerations for future research. Paper presented in the International Seminar on Management of MFP, 1315 November 1994. Dehra Dun.
Shiva, M.P. 1995. Collection, utilization and marketing of medicinal plants from the forests of India with an overview on NWFPs in Asia Pacific Region. Paper presented at the Regional Expert Consultation on Non-Wood Forest Products: Social, Economic and Cultural Dimensions, 28 Nov. to 2 Dec., 1994, Bangkok (Thailand).
Shiva, M.P. & Pandey, B.C. 1998. A potential indicator to augment production of non timber forest products (NWFP) for export and import substitution (export and import trade trends of NWFPs and wood products in India (during 199192 to 199697). Dehra Dun, India, Centre of Minor Forest Products.
This report has been realized within the framework of the EC-FAO Partnership Programme "Sustainable Forest Management in Asia". The contents are based on available information at FAO headquarters in Rome, as well as on a report provided by Dr M.P. Shiva, Centre of MFP, Indirapuram, Dehra Dun, India.
Additional information on NWFP in India would be appreciated and duly acknowledged.
Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, P.O. New Forest, Dehra Dun (India)
Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun (India).
Botanical Survey of India, Kaulagarh Road, Dehra Dun (India)
Centre of Minor Forest Products (COMFORPTS), Indirapuram, Dehra Dun (India)
Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Calcutta
ANNEX 1. FOREST SERVICES
The Government of India encourages ecotourism, recreation and wildlife watching. Hunting has been banned almost totally to conserve the fauna.
Table 8. Protected areas in India
Number |
Area |
|
National parks (NPs) |
85 |
37 436.58 km2 |
Wildlife sanctuaries (WLSs) |
467 |
113 691.88 km2 |
Protected areas (PAs) |
552 |
151 128.46 km2 |
The Wildlife Institute of India has initiated studies and experiments in the high altitude forests in the Garhwal Himalayas to assess tourism impact on habitats and wildlife for sustainable tourism planning. Information is for instance gathered on the tourist flows in Corbett Tiger Reserve and Dhikala in Rajaji National Park. It has been reported that in Corbett Tiger Reserve, 115 km² out of 521 km² is visited annually by 40 000 tourists (of whom 10 percent are foreigners).
Table 9. Wildlife populations in India
Wildlife |
Population |
Elephant |
More than 10 000 |
Hog deer |
More than 10 000 |
Mouse deer |
1 000 to 10 000 |
Musk deer |
Less than 1 000 |
Nil gai |
More than 10 000 |
Sambar |
More than 10 000 |
Sangai |
Less than 1 000 |
Swamp deer (wet) |
1 000 to 10 000 |
Swamp deer (dry) |
1 000 to 10 000 |
Tiger |
4 005 (in 21 states and Union Territories), 1 121 (in 15 reserves) in 1984; 3 000 in 1995 |
Lion |
284 (in Gir National Park) in 1990; 304 in 1995 |
Panther or leopard |
6 763 in 1989; 212 (in Gir National Park) in 1990; 268 in 1995 |
White black buck |
63 in 1994 |
Sambar |
2 262 (in Gir National Park) in 1990 |
Manipur brow-antlered deer |
52 in 1989 |
Crocodile |
39 (in Crocodile Breeding Centre at Tadoba) in 1987 |
Ghariyal |
1 235 (in Nandan Kanan Biological Park, Orissa in 1994 |
Sources: Tiger Paper, April June, 1991 Vol. XVIII: No.2; Department of Environment & Forests, Wildlife Government of India (Tiger Paper, July Sept, 1989 pp 45); Data Centre of Natural Resources and WWF India Newsletter (1985, 2nd Quarterly); Tiger Paper, July Sept., 1995 Vol. 22: No.3; Tiger Paper, January March, 1992 Vol. XIX: No.1, pp 28; Tiger Paper, April June, 1992 Vol.XIX No.2, pp 31; Singh, H.S. (1995) The Indian Forester, Vol. 121. No. 10, pp 876 and 910; Tiger Paper, July Sept., 1996 Vol. 23: No.3.
Product |
Resource |
Economic value |
|||||||||||
Category |
Import-ance |
Trade name Generic term |
Species |
Part used |
Habitat |
Source |
Desti-nation |
Quantity, value |
Remarks |
References |
|||
1, 2, 3 |
F, P, O |
W, C |
N, I |
||||||||||
Plants and plant products |
|||||||||||||
Food
|
1 |
Edible plant products |
N, I |
Export of 3 485 41 MT, Rs.2 683 92 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||||
Oil seeds/fatty oils |
N, I |
Export of 2 641 39 MT, lakh Rs.61 173 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||||||
Oil seeds/fatty oils |
Kusum |
Schleichera trijuga |
30 000 MT, Rs.112 million |
Production potential 200 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||||
Pilu |
10 000 MT |
Production potential 50 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||||||
Pisa |
Production potential 1 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||||||
Karanj |
Pongmia glabra |
26 000 MT, Rs.78 million |
Production potential 110 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||||
Neem |
Azadirachta indica |
100 000 MT, Rs.150 million |
Potential production 400 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||||
Sal |
Shorea robusta |
100 000 MT, Rs.200 million |
Potential production 5 500 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||||
Mahua |
Madhuca indica |
25 000 MT, Rs.17 million |
Potential production 1 100 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||||
Cashew nuts |
Anacardium occidentale |
kernel (fr) |
60 000 MT p/a Price for raw kernel Rs.30/kg, for processed nuts Rs.80120/kg |
Murthy and Subrahmanuam 1989 |
|||||||||
Fodder |
Fodder |
Consumption of 229 million MT (1985) |
Estimated that India needs about 672 million MT of fodder for a population of 616 million people |
Committee, Government of India |
Product |
Resource |
Economic value |
||||||||
Category |
Import-ance |
Trade name Generic term |
Species |
Part used |
Habitat |
Source |
Desti-nation |
Quantity, value |
Remarks |
References |
1, 2, 3 |
F, P, O |
W, C |
N, I |
|||||||
Plants and plant products |
||||||||||
Medicines |
Medicines |
N, I |
Export of 42 592 MT, lakh Rs.51 499 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Spices |
N, I |
Export of 73 046 MT, lakh Rs.51 499 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
|||||||
Perfumes, cosmetics |
Essential oils |
N, I |
Export of 3 554 MT, lakh Rs.17 663 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Sandalwood oil |
Santalum album |
N, I |
Export of 2.00 MT, lakh Rs. 4.65 (199293) Estimated production 1 300 MT |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998; Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Lemon grass oil |
Estimated production 1 200 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||||
Palmarosa oil |
Cymbopogon martini Roxb. Stapf |
Estimated production 90 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Vetiver oil |
Vetiveria zizanoides |
Estimated production 50 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Eucalyptus oil |
E. globulus E. citriodora |
Estimated production 50 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Cinnamon oil |
Cinnamomum spp. |
Estimated production 33 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Deodar wood oil |
Estimated production 2 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||||
Linoloe oil |
Estimated production 3 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||||
Cinnamon oil |
Estimated production 2 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
Product |
Resource |
Economic value |
||||||||
Category |
Import-ance |
Trade name Generic term |
Species |
Part used |
Habitat |
Source |
Desti-nation |
Quantity, value |
Remarks |
References |
1, 2, 3 |
F, P, O |
W, C |
N, I |
|||||||
Plants and plant products |
||||||||||
Dyeing, tanning |
Dyeing, tanning |
N, I |
Export of 8 193 MT, lakh Rs.2 765 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Myrobalan nuts |
Terminalia chebula |
Fr |
78 000100 000 MT p/a, Rs. 1520 million |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Wattle bark |
Acacia mollissima |
ba |
23 000 MT p/a harvstd, Rs.38 million |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Babul bark |
Acacia nilotica |
ba |
22 000 MT p/a, Rs.55 million |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Avaram bark |
Cassia auriculata |
ba |
23 000 MT p/a, Rs.35 million |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Dyeing, tanning |
Myrobalans fruit extract (harra) |
Terminalia chebula |
N, I |
Export of 1 127 MT, lakh Rs.249.39 (199697) |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
|||||
Myrobalans amla |
Emblica officinalis |
N, I |
Export of 248.98 MT, lakh Rs.53.44 (19961997) |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Myrobalans other |
N, I |
Export of 235.97 MT, lakh Rs. (199697) |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
|||||||
General myrobalans |
N, I |
Export of 1 705 MT in 199697, lakh Rs.427.42 |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
|||||||
Annatto dye |
Bixa orellana |
N, I |
Export of 109.24 MT, lakh Rs.97.34 (199697) |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Utensils, handicrafts, construction materials |
Bamboos and canes |
N, I |
Export of 867.71 MT, lakh Rs.39.69 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Bidi |
Diospyros melanoxylon |
le |
300 000 MT p/a, Rs. 15 000/MT, annual value about Rs.4 515 million |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Bamboo |
e.g. Bambusa arundinacea, B. tulda, B. polymorpha, Dendrocalamus strictus, D. hamil-tonii, Melocanna baccifera, Ochlandra travancorica |
When used in paper making or rayon, producers receive about Rs.300/MT Value (potential annual cut): Rs.1 367 million |
Price varies with the end-use |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Agave fibres |
Agacia sisalana |
Estimated production of 2 500 MT p/a, Rs.45 million |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Kapok |
Bombax ceiba |
300 MT p/a, Rs.30 million |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Grasses |
Some 0.3 to 0.4 million MT of grasses could be harvested p/a in India |
Sharma 1977; Gupta 1994 |
||||||||
Sabai grass |
Eulaliopsis binata |
60 00080 000 MT purchased every year by paper mills, price about Rs.300/MT |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Exudates |
Gums and resins |
N, I |
Export of 107 1 58 MT, lakh Rs.50 493 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
||||||
Karaya gum; Indian tragacanth |
Sterculia urens |
N, I |
Export of 941 11 MT, lakh Rs.893 87 (199697) |
Shiva et al. 1996; Shiva and Pandey 1998; Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Oleoresin |
Pinus roxburghii |
N, I |
Production of 46 000 MT, Rs.2.8 million |
Gupta 1994 |
||||||
Others |
NWFP of mineral origin |
N, I |
Export of 9 380 83 MT, lakh Rs.5 045 (199697) |
Shiva and Pandey 1998 |
Product |
Resource |
Economic value |
|||||||||
Category |
Import-ance |
Trade name Generic term |
Species |
Part used |
Habitat |
Source |
Desti-nation |
Quantity, value |
Remarks |
References |
|
1, 2, 3 |
F, P, O |
W, C |
N, I |
||||||||
Animals and animal products |
|||||||||||
Honey, beeswax |
Honey |
Apis dorsata, Apis indica |
N, I |
Apis dorsata honey: 250 MT/ p/a, Apis indica honey: 98 MT, Rs.40/kg, total value of honey production: Rs.139 million Wax: 28 MT p/a, Rs.1.6 million |
A comb of Apis dorsata may yield up to 35 kg honey and 1 kg of wax A comb of Apis indica yields 313 kg honey in the hills and 38 kg honey in the plains |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||
Other non-edible animal products |
Lac, shellac |
Laccifer lacca |
Sticklack: 14 50020 000 MT p/a, Rs.4 50016 000/MT. Total value of annual production Rs.203280 million |
Gupta 1994 |
|||||||
Mulberry, tassar, muga and eri silks |
Bombyx mori Antheraea paphia Antheraea assamensis Philosamia synthia ricini |
N, I |
Estimated annual production of tassar silk: 130 MT Production of other types of silk exceeds 10 000 MT |
Gupta 1994 |
Importance: 1 high importance at the national level; 2 high importance at the local/regional level; 3 low importance
Parts used: an whole animal; ba bark; bw beeswax; le leaves; nu nuts; fi fibres; fl flowers; fr fruits; gu gums;
ho honey; la latex; oi oil; pl whole plant; re resins; ro roots; sa sap; se seeds; st stem; ta tannins
Habitat: F natural forest or other wooded lands; P plantation; O trees outside forests (e.g. agroforestry, home gardens)
Source: W wild, C cultivated
Destination: N national; I international