Kendu Leaf

Kendu Leaf Latest News

Recently, it was observed that tribal communities in Odisha’s Koraput fight for their legal rights over kendu leaves for a third consecutive year.

About Kendu Leaf

• Kendu leaf (Tendu Leaf, Diospyros Melanoxylon ) is also called “Green Gold of Odisha”.
• It is a nationalized product like Bamboo and Sal seed. Kendu leaf is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha.
• Characteristics:
  • It has a matching aroma with tobacco.
  • It is hygroscopic in nature which helps drying leaves to withstand crack.
• Primary use: Used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes); also holds medicinal value.
• Key Producer States: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
• Odisha is the third-largest producer after MP and Chhattisgarh.
• The uniqueness of Odisha Kendu leaves is its processed form. No state produces processed kendu leaves except Odisha.
• Legal Status: Kendu Leaf is covered under Minor Forest Produce (MFP) as per Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.  

Source: DTE

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