Siliguri, 27th February: With Holi approaching, demand for herbal ‘abir’ produced by the Forest Department has witnessed a significant rise. Keeping the growing demand in mind, the Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) division of the department has undertaken record production this year.
At the Forest Department’s unit located in Bagdogra near Siliguri, three varieties of herbal ‘abir’ have been prepared using marigold flowers, bel leaves and multani mitti. The ‘abir’ is available in three colours, orange, yellow and green.
According to forest officials, a total of 3.9 quintals of ‘abir’ was produced in 2024, generating revenue of approximately ₹46,000. This year, production has increased to around 5.5 quintals, marking a substantial rise compared to the previous year. The department has set a revenue target of at least ₹1 lakh for the current season.
Sales of the herbal ‘abir’ have already begun at various forest outlets. Apart from Siliguri, the product is also available in Jalpaiguri and Birpara. Prices have been kept affordable for the general public, with a 500-gram packet priced at ₹90 and a 250-gram packet available for ₹50.
DFO Manjula Tirkey stated that production has increased considerably compared to last year and confirmed that the three varieties of herbal ‘abir’ are now available across multiple forest counters in the region.