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THE DEPENDENCE OF TRIBAL LIVELIHOODS ON FOREST FRUITS IN RURAL JHARKHAND, INDIA

This paper explores the diversity, extraction, consumption and livelihood contribution of forest fruits among tribes in Bundu block of Ranchi district, Jharkhand. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to draw a sample of 164 households from 9 selected villages for field surveys. Data were collected through a structured interview, non-participant observation, key informant interview, focus group discussion, and market assessment. Simple descriptive statistics viz., frequency (f), percentage (%), mean (x), and range were applied to analyze the data. Results of the study revealed that 31 forest fruits harvested from 26 trees and 5 shrubs belonging to 28 genera and 21 families and consumed as ripe fruit (24) followed by pickle (9), vegetable (4), oilseed (3), roasted/boiled seed (3), drink (2), dehydrated unripe slices (1), fruit aril (1), fruit leather (1), kernel (1), sauce (1), soar product (1) and vinegar (1). Total extraction of forest fruits was 19312.60 kg/year, of which 70.37% was sold for cash income and the rest 29.63% were consumed for subsistence. Sale of forest fruits accrued an annual income of ₹ 246685.00 which contributed 3.90% of the total household annual income. Forest fruits constitute a key source of food, nutrition, subsistence, cash income and safety nets. Overharvesting of forest fruits to mitigate livelihood stress is likely to deplete their availability which would greatly affect the tribal welfare and food security. To promote forest fruit’s conservation, forest management should be harmonized with tribal development, poverty alleviation, food security, and livelihood sustainability strategies and thus, some additional policies will be required.