Life Sciences Leaflets12:29-76,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online) st Published on: 1 Dec 2012 IDENTIFICATION AND UTILIZATION OF WILD EDIBLE PLANTS USED BY THE TRIBAL’S OF BASTAR REGION (CHHATTISGARH) AJAY BANIK SOS IN FORESTRY & WILDLIFE, BASTAR VISHWAVIDYALAYA, JAGDALPUR (C.G) [email protected] ABSTRACT: India is one of the 12 “mega-diverse” countries in the world; it has a forest area of 23.81% of the country’s geographical area. In India, the life and economy of the tribal people are intimately connected with the forest. Wild edible plants play a major role in meeting the nutritional requirement of the tribal population in remote parts of the country in general and Bastar of Chhattisgarh in specifically. Wild edible plants not only provide food quantity but also make significant contribution to the population nutrition throughout the year. The use of wild plants as food has been formed an integral part of the culture and tradition of many indigenous communities of the world. It constitutes an essential component in the diet and food security of many tribal communities particularly people living around the forest fringe or in its vicinity. Bastar is the homeland of various tribal groups like Abujh Maria, Muria, Bison-Horn Maria, Dhurwa, Dorla, Bhatra, Halba whose life and culture is nourished in the cradle of Sal (Shorea robusta), Sagon (Tectona grandis), Mahua (Madhuca indica) and others forest timbers and plants. About 74% population of the district is tribal’s. The present study on identification and documentation of wild edible plants revealed that the Adivasis living in forest areas often do very little cultivation; they ate a variety of wild growing plants. The 107 such wild edible plants that were eaten by the tribal’s of Bastar are described in this study. The information was based on an ethno-botanical field study of the district during the months of February - June in the year 2012. The study showed that; a large amount of plants of Bastar region are having an edible values. Some of the edible plants availability is of low in status like Artocarpus lakoocha, Caryota urens, Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea spicata, Leea macrophylla, Pueraria tuberosa etc. which needs to be conserve in the region by the suitable conservation techniques in view of livelihood and nutritional point of view. KEY WORD: Identification,Wild edible plants, Bastar region. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 29 Life Sciences Leaflets12:29-76,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online) INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that in India about 800 species are consumed as wild edible plants over the country (Singh and Arora 1978). Wild edible plants not only provide food quantity but also make significant contribution to the population nutrition throughout the year (Grivetti and Ogle Britta, 2000; Ogle Britta, 2001; Ogle Britta et al., 2001; Ogle Britta et al., 2003). The tribals normally collect seeds of local forest produces like Tendu, Mahua, Chironji, Amla, Harra, Bahera, Tamarind, Jamun, Lakh, Dhup, Bhelwa, Bel, Ber, Neem, Tora, Gum, Raal from the forest and sell them to earn their livelihood. Also the diversity of wild edible species offers variety in family diet and contributes to household food security as well as increase dietary diversity. Further, it provides rural households with supplemental income opportunities through their sale in the markets. In view of above, the present study was conducted to achieve the goal by covering the following objectives:- 1. Identification of wild edible plant species in the Bastar District. 2. Documentation of identified wild edible plants in the study area. 3. Ethnobotanical uses of edible plant species. To understand the utilization pattern of value addition and processing techniques of wild edible plants by the Tribal’s of Bastar region. STUDY AREA: The Chhattisgarh state is spread over in an area of 135,187 km2 which constituted 4.1% of land area and 8.4% of forest cover of the country. The total population of the state is 25.54 million (census 2011). Bastar district is located in the southern part of Chhattisgarh and it is situated 600 meter high plateau above sea level this extend up to Jeypore of the Orissa state; Jagdalpur is 500 m. above the sea level. The district has an average population of 1,411644 as per the 2011 census. Of the total population 86 % are rural population in which more than 70 per cent are tribal people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The field study was carried out in the villages and forest villages of the Bakawand, Machkot and Jagdalpur forest ranges of Bastar District (C.G). During the month February - June of the year 2012. The methodology covers two types of survey namely: 1. Field Survey 2. Literature Collection http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 30 Life Sciences Leaflets12:29-76,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online) The main aim of the survey was to collect information about the wild edible plant species which are used by the tribal’s and also the species are identified and documented by collecting samples of plant species. The identified and collected plant samples were arranged and documented according to their local names, in different tribal languages are noted; also the information about their availability in forests and the level of demand are also noted and written. The parts used as edible also either taken raw or after processing are briefly noted. Tribals also gave the information about their rituals (taboo) based on the edible products. The traditional techniques and the modern processing techniques of the edible plant species are enquired and briefed well. The total respondents were 50-60 in numbers per villages to collect information on wild edible plants along with the information and identification from forest department about the local names and utilization of wild edible plants the study area. The categories of respondent were old men, Tribal women and forest villager’s i.e. user group. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: Roy and Rao, 1957 summarized the diet as monotonous and nutritionally very unsatisfactory, lacking in animal protein, calories, calcium and certain vitamins. They also reported that the eggs of ants are collected from the leafy nests and considered as a delicacy. ‘Gurmuri kira’ which is collected from its nests by holding a lighted torch, is also eaten by many of the tribal people. Ayyanar et al., 2011 Paliyar's (Tribal group of Theni Distt Tamilnadu state) diet comprises variety of unconventional foods such as edible forms of flowers, fruits (ripe and unripe), tubers and rhizomes, leaves, stems, seeds and wild mushrooms. Kala, 2009 investigated and recorded 73 ethno-botanical species used by tribal and non-tribal communities in southern part of Surguja district of Chhattisgarh state in India. Jain, 1963 reported 88 edible plant species in Bastar region utilized by the tribal’s. It has been commented that authors of works on wild edible plants generally fail to exclude plants that are merely edible but are certainly no treat. The present work, too, needs an explanation in this regard. The purpose of such reports is to present a list of indigenous plant materials which the tribal of the region know and recognize as edible. No attempt is generally made to remark to comparative utility of the different plant-foods in the daily diet, or to recommend any to native wild foods to the city-dwellers. These aspects fall within the regime of a nutrition scientist. A catalogue of all plants reported to be used for eating purposes supplies basic material for nutritional research. The present study revealed that the tribal’s mostly rely on tree species of forests for their food purpose as the 45 plant species were of tree habit out of total 107 plant species compiled. Besides tree species, 25 plants were used of roots/tubers importance, 33 were of leaf importance, 42 plants of fruit importance, 3 http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 31 Life Sciences Leaflets12:29-76,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online) were of nuts importance, 17 were of stem and 9 of flowers importance etc. In accordance with the systematic classification, the plants of family belonging to the Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Dioscoreaceae were found highest/maximum plants which are used as edible plants. On the basis of usage the tribal’s were mostly used wild fruits from the forests and consumed as vegetable were mostly preferred way to consume wild edible plants. However, they also made some value addition by preparing the value added products like Achaar’s, Murabaah’s, Bevrages, chips like kuliapapad chips of Dioscorea hispida tubers, chutneys like of Artocarpus lakoocha, Gur from plant species like Borassus flabellifer and Phoenix sylvestris and beverages & drinks like from the plants like Aegle marmelos, Borassus flabellifer, Caryota urens, Citrus maxima, Madhuca indica etc. Mostly the forest products were either used raw or used to cooked vegetables but like Dioscorea hispida, Dioscorea spicata, Dioscorea pentaphylla or tuberous species were required a long processing techniques which takes about 24-48 hrs of processing before used. The investigations were also revealed that the 48 plant species were found to be abundant and 46 plant species were found moderately available in the forests of Bastar region. However, species like Pueraria tuberosa and Caryota urens were found to be rare or endangered in the studied area which needs to be conserved by suitable in-situ techniques. The plants like Dillenia pentagyna, Bauhinia malabarica were of religious importance and they use such plant products only after the religious/worship ceremony called “Kakshadh”. 1. Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae An Annual herb. Local name - Lathzeera (H); Circita (G) Status in Bastar (availability) - Abundant Demand (use) - Moderate Availability - July - October Location - Machkot Edible uses - The leaves of the herb is used as vegetables by the tribal’s and the seeds are used as grains and are eaten.