Institutional Support and Marketing of Minor Forest Products: a Study of Government Agencies in Southern Kerala
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Minor Forest Products (MFPs) play a significant role in sustaining the livelihood and socio-economic well-being of tribal communities in Southern Kerala. Forest-dependent tribes rely heavily on products such as honey, medicinal plants, bamboo, wild fruits, and other non-timber forest resources for income and subsistence. This study examines the effectiveness of services rendered by government agencies in promoting the marketing of Minor Forest Products in Southern Kerala. The study employs statistical tools such as the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test, Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and One-Sample t-test to analyze the perception of respondents. The results reveal that while certain services—such as transportation facilities, processing support, machinery provision, and price stability—are positively perceived, significant gaps exist in ensuring market demand, restricting middlemen interference, conducting effective training, and strengthening online marketing systems. The findings indicate the need for improved institutional coordination and market-oriented strategies to enhance the overall efficiency of MFP marketing and to strengthen the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities in the region.
Author: Sajitha S
Language: English
Subfield: Forestry
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7132836290