Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)
TRIFED, a national level cooperative body was established in August 1987. Initially, it was started under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 administered by the then Ministry of Welfare of India. Presently, TRIFED runs under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The tribal people constitutes an essential segment of Indian population. They are the backbone of the Indian legacy and considered to be the primitives of Indian civilization. Also known as ‘Adivasi or Adibashi’, the tribal population of India is inhabited in the hilly areas of northeastern part of the country and plains of the central and western belt of country.(TRIFED) Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India.
TRIFED has been organized with a mission to strengthen the tribal population of India. This is being done by creating opportunities for tribes to develop socially and economically. TRIFED is running schemes to impart capacity building skills. This assists in manufacturing of tribal products in a structured manner. It generates business opportunities for selling of these tribe products by providing marketing infrastructure and brand building opportunities. The objective is to create a sustainable platform for the tribal products and extend the reachability to International markets also.
Aim & Mission of TRIFED
In terms of Tribal population, India is second highest in the world. Considering a likely folk of over 100 million, they cover more than 8% of the total population of India. However, this segment of population has been facing several difficulties. Due to their primitive features, they are hesitant of contact with other communities. This shyness towards society also leads to geographical detatchment resulting in ultimate economic backwardness.
Listed below are the primary objectives of TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India):
- To work for Social and Economic Development of tribal people.
- It performs the role of infrastructure provider and service giver to the Tribes to boost the manufacturing capacity.
- To impart training to artisans who have skills and talent to upgrade the level of output to International standards.
- It publicizes and advertises the handicraft and handloom products produced by tribes in national and global markets.
- To generate sustainable sources of livelihood for tribal community by giving opportunities to upgrade their contribution in Indian Economy.
Divisions of TRIFED
The actives undertaken by TRIFED get covered under two major categories, namely Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development and Retail Marketing and Development.
Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development
- All the forest products that are produced without making use of wood are called Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
- These products involve usage of plant produce like bamboo, canes, leaves, grass, palms, gums, rattans, waxes, resins, dyes. A few type of food commodities are also put to use which include nuts, honey, lac, wild berries.
- Minor Forest Produce when sold in the open market generates income for the inhabitants of forest areas.
- The income generated creates a sustainable source of livelihood for the tribal community by enabling them to fulfil their basic needs.
- As significant portion of Minor Forest Produce is collected, produced and sold by women, the goal of tribal women empowerment is also attained to a great extent.
Retail Marketing and Development
- The objective of TRIFED is to provide a market platform to the tribal community enabling them to sell their handcrafted products.
- Creation of brand name of handloom, plant & forest origin food products so as to enhance their reachability to high paying customer base.
- TRIFED has generated a network of showrooms, consignments and franchises for publicizing tribe products.
- It also gets engaged in organization of promotional exhibitions, trade fairs and festival haats

TRIFED Schemes At A Glance
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)
The Van Dhan Yojana or Van Dhan Scheme, was initiated by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on 14th April, 2018. The Scheme is a constituent of ‘Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Development and Marketing’. Under this Scheme, Ministry of Tribal Affairs acts as the nodal division at the centre level and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) as the nodal firm at the national level.
The PM Van Dhan Yojana operates by means of a three-tier pyramidal framework, with a peak body at the national level, that is led by TRIFED, followed by a state-level manufacturer business firm (consisting of VDVKCs) as well as a district-level federation.
National level: Includes a pinnacle body at the national level which is responsible for keeping track of as well as supervising the PM Van Dhan.
State-level manufacturer: Consolidates state-level MFP gathering, handling as well as advertising and marketing strategy and also offers tertiary value-addition packaging, branding as well as advertising and marketing of MFP via usual centers. They also deal with training, innovation; as well as offers bank-linkages and also provides insurance to VDVKs.
District level: Aggregates as well as primary/secondary degree of value-addition to MFPs at block/district level. It equally provides cumulative solutions for input acquisitions, capacity building, and so on.
Important Steps taken by TRIFED under this Scheme are the following:
- Launching of Van Dhan startups with a vision to initiate Tribal entrepreneurship.
- Establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs) in forest covered states.
- These Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs) consist of 15 Tribal Self Help Groups/ Kendras. Each Tribal Self Help Group comprises 20 Tribal Non-Wood Forest Produce gatherers and skilled men. Hence, there are around 300 tribals benefitted in each cluster.
- VDVKs are completely Central Government funded (i.e. 100%). A total fund of about Rs.15 lakh is assigned to each 300 member Van Dhan Kendra Cluster.
How Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) Benefits Its Members
- The Self Help Group of Tribal gatherers brings a contribution of Rs.1000/- per member to introduce ownership of each Tribal member
- On the basis of contribution, Panchayats and Districts provide premises to SHGs called Pucca Kendra for their operations.
- A well planned project report is generated and necessary training is imparted to the members accordingly.
- At basic level, gathering of produce like fruit and vegetables is done by Van Dhan Vikas ‘Samuh‘.
- All the required tools such as cutting as well as sieving devices, decorticator, clothes dryer, product packaging device etc, technical tools and other value addition equipment are procured. This is done either through Government e-Market Place or tendering process
- Prospective buyers of the planned product are pinned down at local, national and International level.
- The logistics required are arranged for reach of the seller products to prospective buyers.
- Marketing campaigns, exhibitions are undertaken for marketing and creation of Brand for the Minor Forest Produce (MFP) products.
Overall, the main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) is to strengthen the Indian tribal population, assisting them to take up advantage of their artistic skills and opportunities to have a sustainable livelihood.
Van Dhan Karyakram by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)
- Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram is started by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through nodal agency TRIFED.
- Initially, a training constituent under the program “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain”. The training component was modified into Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram.
- The motive is to mobilize the riches of forest i.e. Van Dhan.
- Under this, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras(VDVK) are setup in various tribal districts.
- These mainly act as hubs from where procurement of facilities and equipment can be made by local handicraftsmen and producers of Minor Forest products.
- The scheme is aimed at setting up of 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVK) all over the country.
- These VDVKs are expected to enlighten the lives of about 25 lakhs tribal gatherers in India by providing sources of livelihood to tribals.
- The contact details of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras(VDVK) may be checked at https://trifed.tribal.gov.in
TRIFOOD Scheme
- TRIFOOD Scheme is a combined move of Ministry of Food Processing Industry and Ministry of Tribal Affairs with TRIFED
- A capital of approximately Rs.11 crore has been earmarked for institutionalizing of value addition center under TRIFOOD.
- This initiative involves starting of value addition center at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh with a Project outlay of Rs.507.70 lakh and Raigad in Maharashtra with a Project outlay of Rs.658.81 lakh.
- These units are meant to be managed by food processors of established reputation under the administrative monitoring of TRIFED
- Since 25% of the raw material requirements are projected to be fulfilled from the Van Dhan Self Help Groups(VDSHGs) and Kendras, the goal of creating entrepreneurial opportunities for Tribal people also gets taken care of
- MFPs that get covered are tamarind, mahua seed & flower, chironjee, myrobalan, amchur, aonla candy, tez patta, cardamom, black pepper, turmeric extract}, dry ginger, cinnamon, coffee, tea, and so on.
Sankalp se Siddhi” – Village and Digital Connect Drive
- The Sankalp se Siddhi” yojana is to bring the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) into operation.
- Under this drive,150 teams consisting members of TRIFED and State Implementing Agencies visit villages and tribal areas
- The locations in these areas are shortlisted for setting up of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs)
- The teams are also meant to identify tribal skilled people and artisans so as toempanel them as suppliers.
- These suppliers are given platform to market their products at Tribes India retail outlets as well as on digital platform TribesIndia.com.
- The visiting teams are given mission to cover 100 villages in each region and total 1500 villages all over the country will be covered.
- A composite sale of more than Rs.200 crore has been projected to be achieved during the 12 months period on activation of VDVKs in 1500 villages of India.

TRIFED Initiatives
Minimum Support Price:
- TRIFED has initiated a number of schemes to ensure Fair Prices to Tribal for their produce.
- This includes schemes such as Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP.
Tech For Tribal:
- Tech For Tribal program has been envisioned to reform targeted number of 5 crore Tribal Entrepreneurs.
- Various capacity building programs and workshops to impart entrepreneurial skills to Minor forest produce collectors are conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY).
- VDVK Cluster leadership is trained in obtaining Quality Certifications such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI ) for greater product acceptance.
Grievance Redressal:
- Initiatives have been taken to ensure sustainability of the resources and facilities to the Tribal.
- The grievances and ground level issues faced in generating produce like storage capacity limitation, limited reach of products to markets, excessive margins taken by middlemen are taken care of.
TRIFED Outlets Network
- The marketing network of TRIFED includes a total of 82 showrooms, 33 consignments and 15 franchises for promotion of tribal products.
- In terms of retail outlets, it successfully markets its products through its retail network of 144 Tribes India outlets.
- The details of the TRIFED Retail outlets can be found at https://trifed.tribal.gov.in.
TRIFED Headquarters and Regional Offices
- Head Office of TRIFED is located in New Delhi
- A total of 16 regional offices have been set up that caters the North, South, East or West of India.
- These 16 regional offices are located in Andhra Pradesh, North, Delhi NCR, UP & UK, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Gangtok, West Bengal, Guwahati, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bangalore, Chennai, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand.
Conclusively, TRIFED has been established to employ the rich artistic knowledge and skills of the tribes supplementing it with technology, logistics and organized infrastructure to transform the legacy of tribal community into a sustainable source of livelihood.
Conclusion
Here, we have shared all the information on TRIFED. For more information check the important links given below:
Application website | Click Here |
Our Website | Trifed.in |