Living and Survival Amidst Hunger: Wild Edible Botanicals as a Prime Forest Productivity in the Rural Purulia District, West Bengal, India from Colonial to Present

摘要

Since time immemorial, Wild Edible Botanicals (WEBs) have been used by the human being as a dietary component. The present investigation documents plants consumed by the tribal communities such as Munda, Santhali, Oraon, Bhumij, Kharia, Ho and Mal Pahariya residing in Purulia district, West Bengal, India. By using a semi-structured questionnaire, an ethnobotanical approach was taken to interview a total number of 127 informants from the ethnic communities residing in the forests and near forest areas of the villages of 20 blocks of the district. The ethnic groups not only use such botanicals during crises and starvation, some of the plants were found to be included in their regular dietary habit. Authors have also tried to describe the socio-economic aspects and conservation practices associated with using WEBs. The possible role of using the reported WEBs as sources of pharmaceuticals and neutraceuticals and their nutrient and anti-nutrient content are also depicted from the existing literature.