Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce
Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched the “Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce” scheme in the fiscal year 2014-15. This initiative aims to bolster the livelihood of tribal communities by enhancing the production, marketing, and preservation of their unique products.
Overview of the Scheme
This scheme merges two previous initiatives: “Market Development of Tribal Products/Produce” and “Grant-in-Aid to State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation for Minor Forest Produce Operation.” Its primary objective is to provide comprehensive support to tribal populations across various aspects of production and marketing while safeguarding their traditional heritage.
Objectives of the Scheme
- Support sustainable development of both forest and agricultural products.
- Enhance institutional capabilities to facilitate production activities.
- Improve infrastructure and design development for tribal products.
- Provide market information to enable informed decision-making.
- Ensure fair pricing mechanisms for tribal products.
Key Benefits and Activities
The scheme encompasses a variety of activities aimed at empowering tribal producers:
Market Intervention Strategies
- Establishing fair price mechanisms for both natural and man-made products.
- Facilitating actual procurement by state agencies to prevent monopolistic practices.
- Providing support during harvest seasons to stabilize prices.
- Sharing market price information to enhance market efficiency.
- Promoting urban sales of tribal products to increase demand.
- Grading, standardizing, and certifying product sources.
- Conducting promotional activities for tribal products.
Training and Skill Development
- Conducting training programs to enhance production quality.
- Fostering skills related to man-made products for better quality output.
- Encouraging the diversification towards high-value products.
- Linking with various departments for comprehensive training support.
Research and Development (R&D) Activities
- Innovating new product applications and development processes.
- Implementing cost-effective methods for product creation.
- Expanding market reach for tribal products through R&D initiatives.
- Documenting traditional knowledge to secure intellectual property rights.
- Promoting tourism through heritage preservation initiatives.
Supply Chain Infrastructure Development
- Establishing efficient warehousing, cold storage, and processing facilities.
- Providing producers with information on necessary inputs.
- Training on warehousing specific to various products.
Trade Information System
- Collecting data on tribal products regarding sources, types, and production potential.
- Disseminating trade information using web-enabled services and SMS alerts.
Eligibility Criteria
Support under this scheme is accessible to the following entities:
- Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED)
- State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations
- State Forest Development Corporations (SFDCs)
- Minor Forest Produce (Trading and Development) Federations (MFPTDFs)
- Institutions engaged in product design, development, export processing, training, and research related to tribal products.
Application Process
To apply for support under this scheme, follow these steps:
- Proposal Preparation: Implementing agencies must draft a comprehensive proposal and action plan, including budget requirements. This proposal should be submitted to the State Tribal/Welfare Department well in advance. Proposals from TRIFED will be sent directly to the Ministry, while others should go through their respective Nodal Ministry/Department.
- Submission of Proposals: Implementing agencies will submit their proposals, ensuring they cover activities for the current financial year and outline future plans that may span multiple years.
- Utilization Certificates: Every proposal must include utilization certificates in accordance with the General Financial Rules (GFR).
Note: No funding will be granted for activities already financed through other schemes, and implementing agencies must certify this in their applications. State governments will oversee the proposals sponsored by them.
For further details, visit the official source: myScheme.gov.in.
Eligibility Criteria
Support under the scheme will be made available to:
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED),
State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations,
State Forest Development Corporations (SDCs),
Minor Forest produce (Trading and Development) Federations (MFPTDFs),
Other institutions identified for product design, development, export processing, training of tribal producers, patenting and trademark, research, GI certification, and activities ancillary to the above.
Benefits
Activities to be undertaken under the Scheme:
Market Intervention: The various aspects of marketing intervention which will be supported under this scheme are:-
fixation of equitable prices for existing products both manmade and natural;
Actual procurement by State agencies as a safety net program and not monopoly/nationalization.
Support during seasons of harvest when prices tend to get depressed;
Sharing of information on prices so that people can make informed and conscious decisions and thereby markets become efficient;
Selling of products by the State Agencies in urban areas and areas away from where they are produced to increase the demand for the products.
Grading of products,
Standardization,
Source certification/Patent etc.
Other promotional activities,
Training and Skill upgradation:
Training for improved production and higher-grade products
Training related to manmade products to improve quality
Diversion to high-value products
Development of improved quality and design.
Linkage with other departments such as agriculture, horticulture, khadi and village industries, handlooms, and handicrafts, etc. for augmentation of training, skill upgradation, and technological support.
R&D/IPR Activity
New product development through new usage
Development of new products per se
Development of new cost-effective processes for product development
Expansion of the market of the tribal products through R&D measures
The IPR regime would be to document traditional knowledge and craft for seeking benefits of royalty and protection against piracy
New technologies of harvesting, scientific harvesting practices, etc. are other measures of R&D
Documentation and preservation of tangible and intangible heritage for promoting tourism etc.
Supply Chain Infrastructure Development:
Setting up of efficient warehousing facilities, godowns, cold storages, etc. wherever necessary
Establishing processing industries for value addition.
Sharing of information on inputs with the producers/gatherers
Develop product-specific efficient warehousing both at the IA level and also at the village level
Training related to product-specific warehousing.
Trade Information System:
Capturing information about different tribal products related to the sources, types, potential, production, collection, etc.
Collection and dissemination of trade information about various aspects of tribal products/web-enabled service SMS etc.
In addition to the above, the following activities:
Creating brands or brands for tribal produce/products,
Developing product designs keeping in view the export market and support for exports.
Application Process
Apply OfflineStep 01: The Implementing Agencies (IA) would be responsible for preparing the proposal and detailed action plan along with budgetary requirements and submitting it to the State Tribal/Welfare Department well in advance.
A proposal from TRIFED would directly be submitted to the Ministry while for other IAs, the same has to reach the Ministry through their Nodal Ministry/Department.
The proposal received from the implementing agencies should include the plan for the current financial year as well as a perspective plan with activities that may have to be completed in more than one financial year. As far as possible, the emphasis would be to establish systems, processes, and mechanisms that are transparent and sustainable.
Step 02: The implementing Agencies will send their proposals incorporating the above factors.
Step 03: The proposal shall be accompanied by utilization certificates as per provisions of GFR.
Note 01: No fund will be provided for the purpose for which the fund has already been given under some other scheme. For this purpose, the implementing Agencies will certify that it has not received funds from any other sources for the activities proposed under this scheme.
Note 02: State governments will also be responsible for the IA whose proposals are sponsored by them.
References & Official Links
Scheme Details
| Full Name | Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce |
| Short Title | ISDMTP/P |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Ministry | Ministry Of Tribal Affairs |
| Categories | Skills & Employment, Social welfare & Empowerment |
| States | All India |
| Gender | All |
| Age Range | Any — 18 years |
| Caste/Category | ST |
| Area | Both |
| Source | www.myscheme.gov.in ↗ |
Deepika Raikwar · 📅 19 Apr 2026
Deepika Raikwar is an Education Analyst and scholarship researcher who focuses on public welfare and merit-based scholarships. She simplifies complex eligibility rules, deadlines, and application processes to help common people access reliable funding opportunities worldwide.
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