Bastar Forest Food Mahua Tamarind Tribal Chhattisgarh

Bastar division of Chhattisgarh covering Jagdalpur, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Sukma districts is one of India largest contiguous forest landscapes, and the tribal communities — primarily Gond, Halba, Dorla, and Muria — derive a significant portion of nutrition and income from the forest food economy. Mahua flower Madhuca longifolia is the most important forest food and fermentation ingredient, collected in March-April and used for making traditional liquor, sweet cakes, and cooking oil. Tamarind from forest trees is collected in summer and sold to cooperative collection points for processing into tamarind paste for export. Bamboo shoots in monsoon, chironji seeds, and sal fruit pulp complement seasonal food security. Bastar tribal cooperative societies under the Chhattisgarh Minor Forest Produce Federation procure and process NTFP from over 1,500 village collection centres. The federation has transformed market access for tribal collectors by providing minimum support prices for tendu leaves, mahua, and tamarind.