Edible Bio-Resources and Livelihoods

2016·129 MB·Assamese

by  Dr. Oinam Sunanada Devi

EDIBLE
BIO-RESOURCES
& LIVELIHOODS
Dr. Puspa Komor
Dr. Oinam Sunanda Devi
Assam State Biodiversity Board
When the last Tree cut down,
The last Fish eaten,
And the last Stream poisoned,
you will realize that you cannot eat money.
–An old native American saying
EDIBLE
BIO-RESOURCES
& LIVELIHOODS
Dr. Puspa Komor
Dr. Oinam Sunanda Devi
Assam State Biodiversity Board
Guwahati
EDIBLE BIO-RESOURCES & LIVELIHOODS
EDIBLE
BIO-RESOURCES
& LIVELIHOODS
Published by:
Assam State Biodiversity Board
2nd Floor, Aranya Bhawan
Panjabari, Guwahati -781037
Copyright:
© 2016 Assam State Biodiversity Board
Photographs:
All photographs by authors except few which are duly
credited in the photo plates
Design & Layout:
Printing & Binding:
Price: ` 450
ISBN: 978-81-932243-1-1
Smt. Pramila Rani Brahma,
Minister, Environment & Forests,
Soil Conservation,
Welfare of Plain Tribes and
Backward Class, Mines and Minerals-
Assam
MESSAGE
I am indeed very happy that Assam State Biodiversity Board
is making constant endeavours to document the richness of
biological diversity and associated traditional uses in Assam.
The understanding of peoples' associations of with their local
biological resources for livelihoods is the first step in planning for
sustainable management of these resources. This book,
therefore, is a welcome step for enhancing our understanding of
biological resources on one hand and securing traditional
knowledge of people on the other.
I congratulate the authors of this book 'Edible Bio-Resources
and Livelihoods' and hope that the Board will continue with such
works.
(Pramila Rani Brahma)
I

Shri V. K. Pipersenia, IAS
Chief Secretary
to the Government of Assam &
Chairman-
Assam State Biodiversity Board
MESSAGE
In our country, there have been strong traditional knowledge
systems for curing common ailments through locally available
plants. Specially in villages the routine food used to be a
prophylactic mix of locally available herbs and shrubs. Thus,
people in rural areas had healthier lives than their urban
counterparts. Assam which is a biodiversity hotspot with
predominance of indigenous population presents an ideal canvas
for understanding this innate relationship of local people with
their surrounding floral and faunal diversity.
The present study throws light on some of the common edible
species that are generally collected from wild and provide
sustenance to local rural population in select districts of Assam.
The Book also provides information on nutritive and medicinal
values of some such edible species.
I hope the book will be useful to common people and
encourage them to look towards these wild bio-resources with the
much deserved respect.
(V. K. Pipersenia)
III

Sri A. K. Johari, IFS
Addl. PCCF
(Biodiversity & Climate Change)
Member Secretary- Assam State Biodiversity Board
FOREWORD
Sometimes I wonder what Mr. Tarzan or Master Mogli ate the
whole day in jungles. I also wonder how an urban citizen would
fend for herself or himself if left in the deep forests for a week with
no packed food or chocolates. In such situations, a little
knowledge of unconventional edible plants may come very
handy.
Of the millions of plant species that exist on Earth, we
depend on very few for our nutritional needs. In fact, 90% of food
requirements are met by less than 10 species. What if these 10
species were taken away !!
People in the past had knowledge of their surrounding
wealth, the plants and animals and knew how to live with them in
a mutually beneficial way. With urbanization and changing food
habits and ever increasing demands for a few select species the
whole situation has changed. We are not only losing diversity of
plants and animals but also the associated traditional
knowledge. This, for me is the bigger threat then climate change
scare.
The present study is a small endeavour to enhance our
understanding of some non-conventional edible bio-resources
used by the tribal and rural populations in select parts of Assam.
The information on their occurrence, nutritional value,
medicinal properties would help us appreciate the beauty of
V
EDIBLE BIO-RESOURCES & LIVELIHOODS
Nature's Menu Card- providing not just the variety but also
security against eventualities, such as species loss.
I hope the contents of this book will be useful for the readers.
(A. K. Johari)
VI