Ind. J. Sci. Res. and Tech.

2013 1(2):27-30/Kapale et al ISSN:-2321-9262 (Online)

Online Available at: http://www.indjsrt.com
Research Article

TRADITIONAL FOOD PLANTS OF BAIGA TRIBAL’S: A SURVEY STUDY IN

TRIBAL VILLAGES OF AMARKANTAK-ACHANAKMAR BIOSPHERE, CENTRAL
INDIA
*
R. Kapale1, A. K. Prajapati2 R. S. Napit1 and R. K. Ahairwar3
1
Department of Life sciences, IGN Tribal University, Amarkantak (M.P.), India
2
Department of Environmental Science, IGN Tribal University, Amarkantak (M.P.), India
3
Department of Botany, Govt. Degree College, Jaitpur (M.P.), India
*Author for Correspondence

ABSTRACT
Amarkantak meikal forest area is mainly dominated by baiga tribals. Baiga tribe of india is a primitive tribe. Baiga
people lives in natural places of meikal hills and depend on forest and forest plants for their livelihood. The present
paper aim to document their wild food plant and its collection practices. The documented plant tabulated in this
paper as per their local name, scientific name, growing season and parts of uses.

Key Words: Baiga, Amarkantak, Forest Plant, Tuber and Corm

INTRODUCTION
Amarkantak achanakmar biosphere reserve established on 11th march 2005, lies between 22o15-22o58’N latitude and
81o25-82o5’E longitude geographically. The Forest reserve area of Biosphere covers the major and minor part in
three districts viz. Anuppur and Dindori of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur of Chhattisgarh. The total area of
biosphere is 3835.51sq. Km. Achanakmar-Amarkantak biosphere reserve has very high concentration of tribal
population. Some of the major tribal communities found in the region are Baigas and other tribes are, Kol, Kanwar
and Pradhans.
The major region of biosphere falls in chattishgarh state which is approximately 68% and remaining area of
biosphere cover the M.P. state. The core zone area mainly falls in chattishgarh state. The tribal’s communities
inhabited in biosphere forest village which is belong to mainly Baiga, Oraon and Gonds tribe. They are partial or
completely depend on natural forest for their livelihood and food product directly or indirectly (Oommachan &
Maish, 1988). The area is largely of agricultural rural settings with preponderance of forests indicative of it’s inter
land-situation covering a geographical area of 3835.51 sq. km under 7 developmental blocks of 3 civil districts. The
total area of biosphere covers a total of 416 villages which are mainly dominated by tribals population. Out of the
total villages 349 falls under revenue villages and remaining 67 falls under forest village category. Out of total
villages of the biosphere area 171(74 in Dindori and 97 in Anuppur) falls in MP and remaining 245 villages fall in
Chhattisgarh. There are only 10 forest villages all located in Dindori district (Shukla & Pandey, 2002).

Figure 1: Map of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Central India

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Ind. J. Sci. Res. and Tech. 2013 1(2):27-30/Kapale et al ISSN:-2321-9262 (Online)
Online Available at: http://www.indjsrt.com
Research Article

Figure 2: Biosphere forest and Tribal villages

The main occupation of majority of population is agriculture but it is still primitive. The cultivation is mainly rain-
fed type in view of unavailability of irrigation facilities in the area. Flow irrigation is absolutely lacking in the
region. The occupational pattern in the region clearly depicts that about 88% of population is directly and/or
indirectly depend on Primary sector of agriculture, which further sub divided in to cultivars (69.25%) and
agricultural labors (27.3%). The secondary and tertiary sectors support only 4.0% and 8.2 % of population requires
immediate attention for its further development. The present paper deals with tribal forest food plant documentation
on the basis of field survey in baiga tribal villages of biosphere (Kumar, 1997).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey was conducted during 2009-2010 in tribal dominated villages and local market of Amarkantak achanakmar
biosphere reserve.Information was gathered by quesionaraie and interview methods. Detailed information regarding
to wild food plants identified with the help of regional floras (Mishra, 1990 and Saxena, 1970) and deposited in the
herbarium of Botany Department, University of Amarkantak, (M.P.) (Singh & Kushwaha, 2008)

RESULTS
Documented vegetable plant of Amarkantak biosphere reserve enlisted as per table followed by local name,
botanical name, season of availability and parts used.

Figure 3: Local market of Amarkantak Figure 4: Wild vegetable (suran & banda) seller Figure 5: Suran

Figure 6: Bans pihri Figure 7: Van piyaz Figure 8: Wild pihri

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Ind. J. Sci. Res. and Tech. 2013 1(2):27-30/Kapale et al ISSN:-2321-9262 (Online)
Online Available at: http://www.indjsrt.com
Research Article

Table 1: Traditional food plants of Baiga tribal’s and their uses

Local Name Botanical Name Season of availability Parts used
Kareel Bambusa arundinacea(Wild) July-Sept. Young shoot
Koliari bhajee Bauhinia purpurea L. March-April Young Leaves
suran Amorphophallus campanulatus Oct.-Nov. Corm
Van Choulai Amaranthus paniculatus L. July-Aug. Leaves
Munga Moringa oleifera L. March-April. Flower & fruits
Kundru Coccinia grandis L. Rainy-Winter Fruits
Purpuri bhajee Amaranthus viridis L. Rainy-Winter Leaves and seeds
Mahua flower Madhuca indica March-April Flower& Fruits
Bhodu Indigenous Mushroom Rainy Fruiting body
Chirkhu Indigenous Mushroom Rainy Fruiting body
Spittu Indigenous Mushroom Rainy Fruiting body
Parorda Wild Shurb July-Sept. Fruit
Boda kand Colocasia esculentum L July-Sept. Tuber
Katbhajee Amarnthus spinosus L. Rainy Leaves
Carota bhajee Cassia tora L. Rainy Leaves
Phul bhajee Celosia argentea Rainy Leaves
Kevkand Costus speciosus Rainy Tuber
Baichandi Dioscorea hispida Throughout the year Tuber
Dumer Ficus glomerata roxb. Sept-dec Fruit
Lal bhajee Amarnthus hybridus L. Rainy Leaves
Van suran Ariseama sp. Rainy Tuber
Suari kand Dioscorea globosa roxb Rainy Tuber
Jangali sem Dolichos sp. Rainy Fruit
Jangali mooli Heliotropium ovalifolium Rainy Leaves
Pan bhajee Marsilea sp. Rainy Leaves
Pakri Ficus. sp. Throughtout year Young Leaves

DISCUSSION
It would seem that all plants which are known to them as non-poisonous but no new food, particularly wild food will
be accepted by urban population without proper information from specialists. Analytical study proves the plants
used by tribal’s as food rich in nutritional property (Jain, 1963). Vegetable are regularly eaten by the adivasi, either
cooked along with the pej or as separate preparation. They may be leafy vegetable or non leafy and tuberous. Few
vegetable are grown by them but most of supply of these vegetable the tribal’s look chiefly to the natural forests
(Championa & Seth, 1968). Most of tribal’s woman collect leaves & flower from natural forest area regularly
(Prasad & Bhatnagar, 1991) and the man would dig out tuberous food (Arora & Pandey, 1996).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are thankful to forest department for timely help during survey time.

REFERENCES
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Online Available at: http://www.indjsrt.com
Research Article

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