Keonjhar's blackberries sell like hot cakes in neighbouring states

KEONJHAR: The blackberry or 'jamu koli' of the district is a coveted fruit. The monsoon fruit is in high demand not just because of its unique tangy taste but due to its precious medicinal properties as well, so much so that in neighbouring West Bengal it is said to be priced more than prized fruits like grapes.
Every year truck loads of jamu koli are transported from the district to other parts of the state, as well as to neighbouring states like West Bengal and Jharkhand."There is a huge demand for the fruit in West Bengal due to its medicinal value. Patients suffering from diabetics and stomach diseases buy the fruit, which is priced even more than grapes in the state," said Murali Ram, a trader from Jharkhand. "We buy the jamuns from local tribal people or farmers at Rs 100 to 150 per bag. We separate the good quality jamun from those, pack them in containers and dispatch them on trucks to West Bengal," Murali said.
The fruit is harvested in the month of June. All members of tribal families, from children to old men, are involved in collecting the pulpy fruit from the forest, roadside trees and gardens in their villages. The tribals sell the produce to traders. They also sell some of the fruits at various markets or by the roadside for Rs 5-10 a paper cone.
Absence of proper facilities for collecting, storing and exporting jamu kolis, however, deters the tribals from fetching the right price for the fruit, rendering them liable to exploitation from traders, locals alleged.
"We painstakingly collect the fruit from the forest, but the traders seldom pay us the actual price, saying the fruit is of poor quality," said Jadumani Naik of Badapasi village. "If the district administration procures our collection at the right price, many poor tribal families will be benefitted. The government will also profit from this practice by selling the produce to traders outside the state," said Sipun Naik, another tribal collector of the fruit.
Additional district magistrate Brajakishore Nayak said though, "The people are freely selling jamu kolis in local markets and to traders as it has high demand outside the state. These people are not exploited in any way, in fact they are getting a very good price for the fruit."