Virtual tour to State Tribal Museum: Collection of forest produce by tribal communities of Odisha

Prameyanews English

Published By : Prameya News Bureau | September 19, 2020 IST

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19: Visitors cannow  see the collection of forest produce by the tribal communities of Odisha by the virtual tour to State Tribal Museum. One can visit the museum by opening the pages @stscdev, @scstrti in every Sunday. To supplement their food resources the tribal communities now forage. Atsuch times, a variety of fruits, leaves, edible flowers and insects, mushrooms, roots and tubers are collected from the forest. The Kutiya Kandh of Kandhamala hills practice shifting cultivation. Amid the newly cleared fields they dig a deep hole close to the cluster of vines and carefully remove wild tubers from the soil. These tubers are naturally sweet and are usually boiled and eaten. Across Odisha tribal communities collect 13 different types of roots and tubers. Pahadi Bhuyan men of Angul district search for a tuber locally known as Benga, which is roasted and eaten during winter.Forays into the forest usually result in collection of a combination of roots, leaves and other produce. Identifying the different trees and creepers 'Dharua' women determine where they must dig for tuber called Kanda or Matialo. The Dharua communities reside in the districts of Koraput and Nabarangapur. Further, in the southern part of Malkangiri district Didayi men dig up long vine tuber locally called Kanda. This tuber is either boiled or cooked as a vegetable curry. Collection of wild arrowroot is an income generating occupation for the hill Khariar. Setting up temporary camps within the Similipal forest in Mayurbhanj district they collect these tubers during the winter. The tubers are brought to the village and processed in arrowroot powder which is sold in local market. Arrowroot powder is used to make biscuits and cake and it has medicinal properties. Several species of fruit bearing trees are important to the life of tribal communities. In Koraput district, group of Gadaba men gather Jackfruit. The fruit and seeds may be consumed in both unripen and ripen form. Along with a variety of leaves, fruits and mushrooms in the summer, the communities also cultivates cashew. The Mahua is another important tree. Its flowers, fruits and seeds are collected in summer. In the video the Gond Women of Nabarangapur are collecting mahua from the forest floor. Once the brown seed coat has been removed the seeds will be crushed to extract cooking oil. Communities like Paroja collect horsegram locally known as Jhanta Manji. The forests and fields also provide other seasonal delicacies. Rice paddy crabs are one such food. Similarly, Omanatya community consider palm weevil larva locally known as Sindhi kida, to be a delicacy. The forest also provides other produces like raisin, gum, black and white honey. Siali creepers, broad leaves of Sal and Sargi, collection of wild grass. Date Palm leaves are also used by the tribal communities as important source of income. The forest is a rich store house of medicinal plant, herbs. The tribal communities have a world of their own set of verbal remedies for a variety of common ailments.

News7 Is Now On WhatsApp Join And Get Latest News Updates Delivered To You Via WhatsApp

You Might Also Like

More From Related News

Copyright © 2024 - Summa Real Media Private Limited. All Rights Reserved.