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1 International Journal of Integrative sciences, Innovation and Technology (A Peer Review E-3 Journal of Science Innovation Technology) Section A Basic Sciences; Section B Applied and Technological Sciences; Section C Allied Sciences Available online at Research Article ETHNOBOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE OF MAHADEO KOLI TRIBES OF RAIGAD DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA: PLANT USED DURING FAMINE MANISH MISHRA* 1, P A JADHAV 2 AND RAJSHREE SINHA 3 1 Research Associate, Senior Grade, 2 Professor, Faculty area of Forestry, 3 Junior, Research Fellow, Indian Institute Forest Management, Bhopal (MP), India, Pin: *Corresponding author manishm@iifm.ac.in ABSTRACT Mahadeo koli tribes of Raigad district of Maharashtra forms the majority in the area, inhabit the upland areas of the foothills. They eat several forest products, medicinal plants, wild roots, rhizome, seeds, fruits and mushrooms during famine, sever drought etc. Data were collected through PRA exercises and interview schedules in three forest ranges of Roha forest division, Raigad. The study identifies seven traditional agricultural crop seeds utilized during famine; four yams and eight tuberous medicinal species. Study also documents sixteen wild leafy vegetables used during famine and stressed conditions by the tribes. Indigenous practices of tribes to cope up extreme environmental conditions and utilization of forest products during famine were discussed in this paper KEY WORDS: Indigenous, Tribal, Vegetables, Tubers, Famine, Environment. INTRODUCTION Indigenous people in the world have used various strategies to respond and adapt to environmental change: diversified resource base chiefly to minimize the risk due to harvest failure, they grow many different crops and varieties, and they also hunt, fish, and gather wild food plants. Change in crop varieties and species and change in the timing of activities like crop harvests, wild plant gathering, fishing, changes in resources resorting to wild foods in the case of emergency situations such as droughts and floods are their coping strategies to combat adverse climatic condition 1. Plants are used as emergency food by the tribal s of Rajasthan desert during periods of famine 2. The utilization of little known foods in times of acute crises is recognized as a form of resilience. Several indigenous crop species are described which could be grown and utilized to prevent a great deal of suffering. The information could be an indicator of the extent to which a region may be suffering silent famine. These natural phenomena may be related to wind direction, cloud pattern, position of planets, behavior of animals, birds and changes in plants etc 3. Local communities have always aimed to adopt variations in their climate. They posses enough knowledge about wild varieties of agricultural crops, edible food, tubers, rhizomes, vegetable crops etc. Traditionally they are storing and utilizing wild tubers, yams, medicinal plants etc. efficiently during the harsh climatic conditions 4, 5, 6. MATERIAL AND METHODS Roha forest division (District-Raigad) lies between latitude 17 50' North and longitude between 72 50' and 73 38' East. Out of six forest ranges of the study area three were selected for the present study. The survey was conducted in 2012 in all the three seasons in selected villages. This period of study has helped the team to record the indigenous knowledge of the tribe from a variety of contexts, such as community food gathering activities, community farming activities etc. Each range was visited 2-3 times, and old aged persons were interviewed for collecting information. The data collection was mainly through transecting walks and observation with the key informants. The key informants were selected after focus group discussions in the selected sites. The information s about the utilization of wild products collected from the natural forests was obtained from the local inhabitants, local medicine men, vaidyas and forest officials. During field visits of the study area efforts were made to collect information s regarding agricultural vegetable and wild products which are used as food supplement in harsh climatic conditions and utilized for curing various human diseases. Random questionnaire based survey of 20% households was done on selected 27

2 forest ranges of Roha. Focus group discussions along with forest department officials, villagers, Vaidyas were organized at field level to confirm various indigenous practices adopted by the tribes. Mahadeo koli tribes of the district Raigad were surveyed thoroughly along with forest officials. Old aged persons (Gunias) of above fifty years of age in each village were interviewed separately to get idea about traditional coping strategies to fight various crop diseases using wild products and their mode of applications. RESULTS A list of different agricultural crops, cereals etc. used by the Mahadeo koli tribes in sever drought and famine conditions is depicted in Table 1. In case of the continuous subsequent famine, crops like Nachani (E. coracana) whose seeds were used to make chapatti, Vari (Panicum sp.) chapaties were made from seeds, lal Makka (Zea maize) seeds after boiling eaten in form of aqueous paste and Urad (V. radiata) seeds boiled and utilized as cereals etc. after processing these crops were largely utilized in continuous famine conditions. These products were stored in bamboo made containers for longer duration and utilized during food scarcity The information depicted in Table 2 shows various species of yams and tubers used as food supplement in famine and drought conditions by the Mahadeo koli tribes. Root, tubers and yams are very important source of food for survival in the region. Most of the tubers like Ratalu (D. bulbifera), Valkand (A. companulatus) and Wild alu (C. esculenta), were used as food supplements, medicinal and vegetable after thorough washing, boiling and skin removal. The tubers are eaten baked, boiled, or fried much like potatoes. Kokum (G. indica) fruit squash is used to drink in famine and oil extracted is used for bone pain by the tribes. Most of the yams, tubers can be stored up to six months to one year without refrigeration, which makes them a valuable resource for the yearly period of food scarcity at the beginning of rainy season. Plants like Rankelikand (M. superba), Van karela or Kartoli (M. dioca), Shivla (A. sylveticus) etc. were used as vegetable after thorough washing and boiling. Similarly, these yams were also used for curing various diseases after some modification and processing in curing jaundice, stomach ache, malaria, fever, etc. 28

3 Table 3 shows utilization of wild edible leafy vegetables during famine situations by the tribes. After processing like boiling, meshing and drying wild verities of vegetables (bhaji) like Kolu (C. tuberosum) leaves are cooked as vegetable and also roots eaten in raw form. Young leaves of Taklu (C. tora) and Mokha (S. swietenoides) are boiled and cooked as vegetable. Bhokar (C. dichotoma) fruits are used to make vegetable and pickles. Its ripe fruits are edible and Akhur (D. wallichi) tubers are also edible. These leafy vegetables were used in harsh climatic conditions as food material in absence of locally available vegetables. The plant leaves were largely sun dried and sometimes boiled and stored in bamboo baskets for six months to one year. Forest products used by the tribes during famine conditions were shown in Table no. 4. The tribes utilize these products in different forms directly or after processing. Fresh Amla (E. officinalis) fruits were consumed as pickle and after sun drying, powdering used as medicine also. Mahua (M. indica) flowers were used to prepare drink known as Peg. Aam (M. indica) seeds were dried and powdered to make chapattis. Chinch (T. indica) seeds were used in extracting gum and Bamboo (D. strictus) culms, seeds and flowers were used as food. Chattari mushroom (Agaricus sp.) is commonly used by the tribes after sun drying and powdering. It is a good source of protein. 29

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5 DISCUSSION Wild agriculture crop seeds like Nachani (E. coracana), Uri (P. mungo), Vari (Panicum sp.), Bhadas (O. sativa) etc. possess qualities to grow in extreme weather situations and are prone to insect infestations. The crushed, powdered seeds of these crops were largely used for making chapattis by the tribes. Sometimes aqueous paste (Peg) was also made using Mahua flowers and red maize seeds. Scientists 7,8 also reported utilization of wild crops relatives and Mahua flowers, Bamboo seeds after processing particularly in harsh climatic conditions. They reported several wild relatives of crops like Kulthi, Baigani tuar, Jhunjhunu, Adzuki bean etc. used during extreme drought conditions by the Gond and Baiga tribes of Central India. Some wild yams, tubers and rhizomes like Balkand (D. pentaphylla), Ratalu (D. bulbifera), Wild alu (C. esculenta), Rankelikand (M. superba) and Valkand or suran (A. companulatus) etc. used as food material after processing and thorough washing and boiling. Most of the tubers were thoroughly washed in running water for few hours and then baked, boiled to remove toxicity. Few tubers were cut and chips were made. After processing these products made out of raw tubers were utilized during famine conditions. However, tubers have medicinal value and hence used in curing various human ailments. Local tribes also used these wild yams, tubers during stressed, food shortage conditions and whenever drought occurs. During floods and crop failure most of the NTFPs available locally in the forest were used to cope up extreme environmental conditions. Corms and aerial bulbs of wild Dioscorea eaten raw cause a terrible itching sensation and hence they were peeled, boiled in tamarind water and smeared with turmeric paste 9. Wild leaves are among the most widely consumed wild foods. Most of the leafy wild foods plants are locally referred to and classified as weeds, sprouting, and flourishing after rains. Tribes use them in soups, stews and relishes that add flavor to staples. Some wild leafy vegetables like Kolu bhaji leaves are cooked as vegetable and roots were eaten as raw. Young leaves of Taklu are also used as vegetables. Tembur ripe fruits are eaten as raw, Kurudu leaves and twigs are cooked as vegetable and Kantoli berries are edible and the bark is used for tanning etc. These wild vegetables used as food in harsh climatic conditions like drought, famine etc. after proper drying and processing. Workers 10 reported diversity of wild leafy vegetables of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserves, being used by local inhabitants was around 21 species belonging to 14 genera and 11 families. They also describe availability, use period and associated traditional knowledge. Scientists 11,12 also reported changing trends in utilization of wild leafy greens in Western Ghats. They reported that alien species invasion and modern agri-practices lead to local extinction of many greens and the erosion of traditional knowledge especially among youth due to materialistic life style affects sustainable use of many wild greens. Studies on the Nilgiri Biospere Reserve concluded that leafy vegetables are a good resource for the upliftment of the economy of rural people. Mahadeo koli tribes of Raigad district also utilize few forest products as food material in drought and famine. After crushing, processing Bamboo seeds and flowers were utilized during famine. Forest products play a vital role in the economy of a tribal both in terms of sustenance and source of income. Kelbessa 13, reported local coping strategies of farmers of Sahel, South Africa while using emergency fodder and culling of weak livestock for food during periods of drought. Sinha and Lakra 14 identified 50 types of wild leaves, 46 types of fruits and 14 tubers consumed by the Tribal s of Orissa. They reported 141 types of wild plant foods, which are integral part of tribal diet. Similarly, Mohanty 15 working in Dhenkanal district documented traditional knowledge of plants used as household appliances. CONCLUSION The study shows that wide ranges of uncultivated species were used by the Mahadeo koli tribes of Raigad as food material during stressed environment. These herbs are harvested from forest and nearby localities and used directly or by processing by the tribes during famine conditions. Value addition through storage and commercialization could probably widen the livelihood base and thus draw attention of planners. Such strategies have been effectively used to combat vitamin and micro nutrient deficiencies and thus should be replicated in all other regions. In the above study it is seen that agriculture crops and forest plants were largely utilized in famine situations. Tribes use wild relatives of agriculture plants like Nachani, Vari, Uri etc. Tuberous medicinal plants like Balkand, Ratalu, Suran etc. were also utilized as food supplement by the tribe. Similarly, wild leafy vegetables were utilized after drying, processing etc. particularly in severe drought conditions. These species are equally rich and nutritious like normal crops and help the tribal s to cope up from scarcity of food. These wild food plants are not only dietary staples but more generally provide nutritionally valuable supplements as they are rich in proteins, sugars, starch, vitamins, minerals etc. Some edible products consumed by the tribes are highly priced for their delicacies, medicinal values and industrial uses. As such these are in great demand in the 31

6 urban centers also. Most of these wild species can be utilized as food and can be exploited to meet the nutrition security of the region during extreme climatic situations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors are thankful to Director, IIFM for his kind inspiration and Research Cell of IIFM, Bhopal for providing financial support. Authors are also thankful to Dr. Madhu Verma and Dr. Suprava Patnaik for their guidance and constant encouragement. We are extremely thankful to the Mahadeo koli tribal community of Roha and the State Forest Department of Roha, district Raigad, Maharashtra, for providing valuable information s and field assistance. REFERENCES 1. Salick Jan and Byg Anja, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, 2007http: //tyndall webapp.uea.ac.uk/publications/indigenouspeoples.pdf. ] Website viewed on 12/4/ Bhandari M M, Famine Foods in the Rajasthan desert, Economic Botany, 28(7): 73-81, (1974) 3. Pareek A and Trivedi P C, Cultural values and indigenous knowledge of Climate Change and Disaster prediction in Rajasthan, India, Indian J Tradit Knowl, 10(1): , (2011). 4. Mishra M and Singh S P, Indigenous community participation in India. European Tropical Forest Research Network, Special Issue on Climate Change, 50:84-90, (2009). 5. Mishra M, Climate Change and Its Impact on Forest and Dependent Local Communities: A Case of Two Tribal Communities of Central India. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Management of Natural Resources and Environment in India MNRE, (Guru Arjan Dev Development Institute, Amritsar, Punjab), , (2010). 6. Mishra M, Gupta H S and Bhangre M, Climate change mitigation through participation of tribal communities: a case of central India, Proceed. Natl. Conf. on Recent advances in plant sciences. NCRAPS, (P. Shrivastava), , (2011). 7. Mishra M, Gupta H S and Bhangre M, Climate variability and its impact on Non- Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): a case of Baiga and Gond tribes of Central India. A Report submitted to Regional Centre, National Afforestation & Eco-development Board, IIFM, Bhopal, Sponsored by RCNAEB, Bhopal, 108, (2012a). 8. Mishra M, Gupta H S and Shrivastava M, Documentation of Traditional Knowledge of Baigas of Dindori District, Madhya Pradesh with special reference to their strategies in coping climate change, Life Science Leaflets, 11:61-72, (2012b). 9. Yashodharan K and Sujana K A, Wild edible plants traditionally used by the tribes in the Parambhikulum wildlife sanctuary, Kerala, India, Natural Product Radiance, 6(1):74-80, (2007). 10. Misra S, Maikhuri R K, Kala C P, Rao K S and Saxena K G, Wild leafy Vegetables: A study of their subsistence dietetic support to the inhabitants of Nanda Devi Biosphere reserves, India, J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine, 4:15, (2008). 11. Narayan R M K and Kumar A N, Gendered knowledge and changing trends in utilization of wild edible greens in Western Ghats, India, Indian J Tradit Knowl, 6 (1): ,(2007). 12. Sasi R, Rajendran A and Sivalingam R, Diversity of Leafy Vegetables in Nilgiris, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Southern India, International Journal of Biological Technology, 2 :1-7,(2011). 13. Kelbessa and Workineh, Traditional Oromo Attitudes towards the environment: An argument for Environmentally Sound Development. OSSREA Social Science Research Report Series, Addis Adaba: Commercial Printing Enterprise, 19, (2001). [ 14. Sinha R and Lakra V, Wild tribal food plants of Orissa. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 4 (3): , (2005). 15. Mohanty N, Das P K and Panda T, Use of plant diversity in household and rituals by tribal people of Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India. Journal of applied pharmaceutical science, 1(04): (2011). 32