An Amul-like marketing structure is contemplated for minor forest produce (MFP). Trifed will be the nodal agency for reframing and implementing the scheme. The rural development ministry is asked to integrate the scheme into its network of self-help groups under Aajeevika initiative. These groups will be given incentives to organize tribal households. If and when it happens, five crore tribal people across India may be able to get market price for their produce. Trifed-sponsored self-help groups will train tribals on how to do simple value addition to get better prices for minor forest produce they gather, according to TRIFED managing director Pravir Krishna. "For instance, tamarind in its raw form would hardly get any price for them. But if deseeded and the outside husk removed, it can fetch double the price. These simple value addition centers would be opened in tribal households," he added. Under the plan, Trifed will leverage its access to remote villages to open value addition centers in tribal households, organize tribal people in self-help groups, set up godowns for storage, and initiate awareness programs involving state governments and elected representatives. The scheme will expand beyond nine tribal-dominated Schedule V area states and will cover nine more states. So far, the scheme was restricted to Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. After concerted efforts, the Centre has got additional states on board - Karnataka, Manipur, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam. TRIFED has set a target of opening 15,000 value addition centers in tribal homes. The next step will be to transport this produce to village haats (markets) and bypass intermediaries who corner all profits. "We plan to reach 1,800 out of 5,000 village markets this year," Krishna said.