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st Published on: 1 March 2012 UPLIFTMENT OF TRIBALS OF DHULE AND NANDURBAR DISTRICTS (MAHARASHTRA, ) D. A. PATIL POST GRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, L. K. Dr. P. R. GHOGREY, SCIENCE COLLEGE, DHULE-424005, (MAHARASHTRA) INDIA. dapatil_10aug@ yahoo.com ABSTRACT: Extensive and intensive botanization was carried out during the last two decades in the erstwhile Dhule district (presently Dhule and Nandurbar districts) of the state of Maharashtra. Pawara, Bhil. Kokani, Mavachi, etc. are the main tribe especially in hilly tract of Satpura mountain and extended offshoots of Western Ghats in these districts. The forests and forests products, besides the traditional cultivated crops are the main sources of their sustenance. The present study attempts at highlighting species utilized by them for medicine, food, dyes, gums, tannins, oils, fodder, fuel, timber, thatching huts and hedges, agricultural and household implements, etc. It appeared worth suggesting that these districts are quite rich in raw materials from viewpoint of cottage industries for upliftment of these people.

KEY WORD: Upliftment, Vegetable resources, Dhule-Nandurbar districts.

INTRODUCTION: Dhule and Nandurbar districts are situated at the north-western border of Maharashtra state. They stretch between 73°47′ and 75°11′ east longitudes and between 20°38′ and 23°3′ north latitudes. The forests area is about 4732.199 sq.km. According to 1991 census, the population of these districts is 2535715. Out of 1523 villages, 871 villages are inhabited by tribals such as Pawara, Bhil, Kokani, Mavachi, etc. Nearly the area is 41% tribal. Major livelihood in the region is although farming, they have to depend on forests products. The forests are tropical, dry type. They belong to different subtypes viz., (i) Tectona grandis L. type, (ii) Acacia chundra (Roxb. ex Rottl.) Willd. type, (iii) Hardwikia binata Roxb. type and (iv) Scrub type. The plant-wealth in the region has been studied by some workers (cf. Tayade and Patil, 2003, 2006,2005; Patil, 1998; Patil, Pawar and Patil, 2002; Pawar, Patil and Patil, 2006; etc.). It is intensively investigated by the present author floristically (Patil, 2003). These studies are confined mostly to ethnomedicinal utilities. The present study is an attempt to classify all useful plant species for other purposes such as food, fodder, fibre, gums, dyes, oils, various implements, thatching, hedges, house-building, etc., besides

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METHODOLOGY: The present authors gathered information regarding ethnomedicinal knowledge of tribal and rural people of Jalgaon district during 2005 to 2010. The tribes such as Pawara, Bhil, Tadavi and Vanjara were interviewed and cross-checked repeatedly w.r.t. plant species, part/s used, method of preparation of recipes, doses etc. during ethnomedicinal collections. The first-hand information is collected from informants such as elder tribal men and women, medicinemen and elder rural folks. On many occasions, the methods were observed and noted carefully during their administration and application.

RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: 1.Food : (a) Foliage as Vegetable: The district harbours sizable tribal population. The survey of their food habit provided a wealth of information hitherto undivulged. Some common ones are presented below about the foliage used as vegetable : Portulaca oleracea, Ipomoea aquatica, Hibiscus cannabinus, Ipomoea turbinata, purpurea, Rivea hypocrateriformis, Cassia tora, Alternathera sessilis, malabaricum, Amaranthus spinosus, Tamarindus indica, Amaranthus polygonoides, Glinus lotoides, Amaranthus viridis, Zaleya decandra, Digera muricata, Meyna laxiflora, Commelina forskalaei, Caesulia axillaris, Vernonia anthelmintica. (b) Edible : Aegle marmelos, Buchanania lanzan, Capparis decidua, Diospyros melanoxylon, Ficus glomerata, Emblica officinalis, Tamarindus indica, Ziziphus mauritiana. (c) Edible Underground Parts: Dioscorea bulbifera, D.hispida, Pueraria tuberosa, Ensete superbum. 2.Fodder Plants: Flacourtia indica, Milletia extensa, Hardwickia binata, Albizia lebbeck, Cynodon dactylon, Chrysopogon fulvus, Dichanthium annulatum, Sorghum helepense, Ziziphus mauritiana, Leucaena latisiliqua, Grewia tiliifolia var. tiliifolia, Bauhinia racemosa, Tamarindus indica and few other crop weeds. 3.Timber Yielding Plants: Ougeinia oojeinensis, Dalbergia latifolia, Tectona grandis, Haldina cordifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Timber of inferior quality is also obtainable from Anogeisus latifolia, Lagerstroemia parviflora, L.microcarpa, Terminalia arjuna, T. crenulata, Albizia lebbeck, etc. 4.Match-wood Yielding Plants: Holoptelea integrifolia, Ailanthus excelsa, Hymenodyctyon orixense, Garuga pinnata, Lannea coromandelica, Wrightia tinctoria, etc.

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5.Fibres Obtained From Unconventional Plants: Tribals obtain fibres from stem for making ropes and cordages. Some of the species exploited are: Cissampelos pareira, Thespesia lampas, Helicteres isora, Sesbania sesban, Sida cordata, Bauhinia racemosa, , Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantea, Malachra capitata, Sterculia urens, Hibiscus cannabinus, Butea monosperma, Abutilon indicum, Abutilon pannosum, Kydia calycina, Triumfetta annua, Triumfeta rhomboidea. 6.Plants Used for Fish-Poisoning: Bark of stem or roots, and are used for the said purpose. Some of the common plant species are: Pongamia pinnata, Millettia extensa, Cassine alberns, Sapindus laurifolius, Balanites aegyptiaca, Lannea coromandelica, Holoptelea integrifolia, Catunaregam spinosa, Veronica anagallis-aquatica, Ougeinia oojeinensis. 7.Gum Yielding Plants : Terminalia crenulata, Sterculia urens, Garuga pinnata, Boswellia serrata, Azadirachta indica, Acacia chundra, A.nilotica ssp. indica. Anogeissus latifolia, Buchanania lanzan, Butea monosperma, Cochlospermum religiosum, Lannea coromandelica, Pterocarpus marsupium. 8.Dye Yielding Plants: (a) Bark : Acacia chundra, Cassia fistula, Ziziphus xylopyra. (b) : Butea monosperma, Woodfordia fruticosa. 9.Tannin Yielding Plants : Zisiphus mauritiana, Cassia auriculata, C.occidentalis. Anogeissus latifolia, Bridelia retusa, Buchnania lanzan, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia arjuna, T.bellirica. 10.Plant Used For Worshiping: Some plants are associated with some festivals, ceremonies or rites (cf. Bhamare and Patil, 2005). Following ones are also noted for the said purposes. Aegle marmelos, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Plumeria rubra, Thevetia peruviana, Nerium indicum, Clitoria ternatea, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ficus benghalensis, Cynodon dactylon, etc. 10.Plant Yielding Oil-: Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia, Argemone mexicana, Jatropha gossypifolia, Martynia annua, Pongamia pinnata, Psoralea corylifolia, Schleichera oleosa. 11.Plants For Hedging Around Fields: The following can be planted: Caesalpinia sepiaria, C.bonduc, Carissa congesta, Acacia pennata, Euphorbia nerrifolia, E.nivulia, E. tirucalli, Ziziphus rugosa, Rhus sinuata, Agave vera-cruz, Jatropha curcas, Kirganelia regiculata, Capparis sepiaria, Chlerodendrum phlomides, Ipomoea carnea, Vitex negundo, etc. 12.Plants For Fencing Around Fields: Dried branches of the following plants are used: Acacia nilotica spp. Indica, Maytenus emarginata, Zizipus nummularia, Z.mauritiana, Alagium salvifolium, Securinega leucopyrus, Capparis deciduas, Balanites aegyptiaca, Parkinsonia aculeate, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia polycantha, Mimosa hamata, Dichrostachys cinerea and Canthium coromandelicum. 13.Fuel Wood: The unbridled growth in population in our country has made it incumbent on tapping varied source of energy. Still wood continues to be the principal source in rural India. Patil (1999)

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advised about 42 tree species with their desirable attributes from this region. Of these, 17 tree species are good charcoal-yielders. They are useful not only for fuel but also for fodder, timber, medicine and other miscellaneous purposes. Their captive plantations are recommended. 14.Potential Horticultural Plants: Dhule and Nandurbar districts are rich in wild plant species with beautiful foliage and flowers. The following can be introduced in gardens: (i) For Foliage : Tacca leontopetaloides, Leea macrophylla, Leea asiatica, Costus speciosus, and Amorphophallus commutatus. (ii) For Flowers and as Pot Herbs: Gloriosa superba, Habenaria furcifera, H.longicorniculata, Fioria vitifolia, Thespesia lampas, Maerua oblongifolia, Vaccaria pyramidata, Chlorophytum tuberosum, Curcuma indodora, Crinum latifolium, Caralluma adscendens, Barleria montana, Eranthemum roseum, Clerodendrum sarratum, Cleome chelidonii, Impatiens balsamina var. coccinea, Nicandra physalodes, etc. (iii) As Climbers On Trellis and Building: Aspidopterys cordata, Cayratia auriculata, Ampelocissum latifolia, Paracalyx scariosa, Passiflora foetida, Trichosanthes cucumerina, holostemma ada- kodien, Argyreia sericea, Ipomoea hederifolia, I.sepiaria, I.tubinata, species of Dioscorea and Asparagus. (iv) As Avenues/Shade Trees: Miliusa tomentosa, Cochlospermum religiosum, Bombax ceiba, Melia dubia, Sapindus laurifolius, Schleichera oleosa, Erythrina suberosa, Cassia fistula, , Piliostigma malabaricum, Albizia procera, Terminalia bellirica, Lagerstroemia parviflora, L.microcarpa, Hymenodictyon orixense, Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia, Schrebera swietenoides, Holarrhena pubescens, Wrightia tinctoria, Cordia wallichii, Gmelina arborea, Santhalum album, Cleidion spiciflorum, Holoptelea integrifolia, Trema orientalis and Ficus arnottiana. 15.Household and Agricultural Implements: Timber for household implements e.g. cots, pegs, pestles, pastry board, pastry roller, churner, etc. and agricultural implements such as ploughs, yokes, tool, handles, carts, cartwheels, spoketes, etc. is obtained from the species viz., Pterocarpus marsupium, Acacia nilotica, Anogeissus latifolia, Haldina cordifolia, Cassine alberns, Diospyros melanoxylon, Holoptela integrifolia, Tectona grandis, Schleichera oleosa, Madhuca longifolia, etc. 16.Ethnomedicine: The published literature stated elsewhere clearly indicated medicinal potentiality of plant-wealth in these districts. Practically every ailment prevailing in the region is cured by the tribal medicine-men and women. If these ethnomedinal species are investigated from chemical and pharmacological point of view, they may yield very useful lead molecules. New drug sources can be made available at large. Moreover, Patil, Pawar and Patil (2004) enlisted notable plant species used

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for dental and oral healthcare from this region. They are used daily by the tribal people. These species should be studied scientifically. Bidiwrappers : Diospyros melanoxylon, Bauhinia racemosa. Scented Oil: ‘Rosha Grass’, i.e. Cymbopogon martini. Wine-Yielding Plant: Flowers (corollas) of Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia.

DISCUSSION:

The tribal people although agrarian communities, all are not land-holders. If at all they are land-owner, it is not truly sufficient to sustain their worldly demands. They have to depend on forest products- whether major or minor. Their staple food is maize, rice and sorghum. They earn substantial portion of their economy from forest resources. They gather tubers, fruits, leaves, flowers, gum, timber wood, fuel wood and fodder, apart from various other miscellaneous utilities. Their activities are seasonal for example, they collect fuel wood during May-June, agricultural work during June-October, minor forest products during winter season, Mahua collection during April-May and likewise. They obtain income through collection of bidi-wrapers, gum, fruits of amla and charoli (Buchnania lanzan), etc. The present study shows that forests in Dhule and Nandurbar districts are quite rich in plant – derived raw materials. They can be used in raising cottage industries e.g. bidi manufacturing, herbal drug collection, wine distillation, collection centres for gum, tannin, etc., besides oil extraction from Mahua seeds and honey collection. If these activities are organized by the tribal societies, they will be used more for their welfare.

ACKNOLEDGEMENTS:

Author is thankful to the authorities of the institution for laboratory and library facilities.

REFERENCES: Bhamare, P.B. and D.A.Patil (2005). Ethnobotanical envision and wisdom of tribals in Dhule and Nandurbar Districts (Maharashtra). In:Proceedings of National Conference on ‘Plant Diversity And Biotechnology’ 10-11. Dec. 2004. P.G. Department of Botany, S.S.V.P.Sanstha’s L.K.Dr.P.R.Ghogrey Science College, Dhule, Maharashtra (Eds. Nandan S.N., D.A.Patil, B.D.Borse and V.B.Salunkhe), pp.265-208.

Borse, S.C., Bhamare, P.B. and D.A.Patil (1990). Medicinal plantlore of the tribals of Dhule (Maharashtra), Biojournal 2(1):47-54.

Patil, D.A. (1998). In quest of suitable tree species for energy plantation in Khandesh region (Maharashtra) JAST 2(1):9-15.

Patil, D.A. (2001). Ethnography of the drug safed-musali in India. Ancient Sci.Life 21(1):51-65.

Patil, D.A. (2002). A few highly exploited species in a dire necessity of conservation from North- Maharashtra (India). Journ.Non-Timber For.Prod. 8(3-4):184-190.

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Patil, D.A. (2003). Flora of Dhule and Nandurbar Districts (Maharashtra). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India.

Patil, D.A. (2010). Elements of ethnotaxonomy in Dhule and Nandurbar districts (Maharashtra). Journ.Ecobio-technology 2/3:18-25.

Patil, D.A. Shubhangi Pawar and M.V.Patil (2002). Mahua tree and the aborigines of North Maharashtra (India). Natural Prod.Radiance 3(5):356-358.

Patil, M.V., Pawar Shubhangi and D.A.Patil (2004). Ethnobotanical plants used for dental oran healthcare in North Maharashtra. Journ.Non-Timber For.Prod. 11(3):208-210.

Pawar, Shubhangi, Patil, M.V. and D.A.Patil (2006). Ethnomedicinal usage of ‘Bel’ [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.] in Khandesh Region of Maharashtra (India). Jour.Non-Timber For.Prod. 13(2):131-133.

Tayade, S.K. and D.A.Patil (2003). Hitherto untapped plantlore from Nandurbar District (Maharashtra) Natural Prod.Radiance 4(1):46-50.

Tayade, S.K. and D.A.Patil (2005). Ethnomedicinal traditions of tribals of Nandurbar District (Maharashtra). J.Phytol.Res. 18(2):251-254.

Tayade, S.K. and D.A.Patil (2006). Ethnobmedicinal wisdom of tribals of Nandurbar District (Maharashtra). Natural Prod.Radiance 5(17):64-69.

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