Ranchi, Feb 22 (PTI) Jharkhand Agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey on Saturday inaugurated a central processing and research centre in Ranchi to promote forest produce.

She also kicked off a one-day cooperation fair and exhibition programme on the occasion.

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"This centre will prove to be a millstone in the coming days. Villagers can sell their forest produce in the market by packaging it for a very nominal fee," she said.

The minister said a large population of the state is dependent on forest produce.

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"The objective of the state government is to promote forest produce and provide a market for it. Forest produce has a great role in the development and economic development of farmers," she said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)