Decision - oriented market information system for forest and agro-forest products in India

Abstract

There has been a sharp rise in the demand and prices of forest and agro-forest products in India. Yet many agencies report large unsold stocks of different products. Large processors are unable to get sufficient quantities of raw materials, but forest product producers and gatherers often cannot sell what they have produced. This is indicative of a frequent mis-match between supply and demand of different forest products, and is believed to be substantially due to lack of good market information with both suppliers and buyers for correct decision-making. This study, based on primary survey data, first identifies the decision-making needs of different players in the market for forest products. It then develops, based on the study and a conceptual framework, a decision-oriented market information system for a selected set of forest products. The information system to be enabled by computers and internet will source market information locally as well as nationally and internationally. It will process and analyze it, and disseminate it widely to private and public agents including gatherers, growers, processors, traders, buyers, and government decision- makers. If implemented well, it will lead to better information with the agents and good decision-making, which will help to reduce, locally and nationally, the mis-match between supply and demand.