A dimension within Traditional Forest Products
This theme explores the decline of traditional forest products, wild edibles, and forest foods, affecting livelihoods and natural resources.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Neutral
Overall Community Sentiment
People want to bring back the lost forest food products.
— Priti Majhi
People will now bring and eat mahua char kendu found in the forests that they had lost in the past, preparing it as food.
— Priti Majhi
People will now bring mahul char kendu found in the forests that they had lost in the past, prepare it as food, and eat it.
— Priti Majhi
I myself want to bring back the lost forest produce, which people are over-exploiting.
— Priti Majhi
I want to bring back the medicinal items, food items, and root vegetables found in our forest, so that they do not disappear.
— Laxmi Bagh · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
My name is Isaac Sabar, village Zero Number, Panchayat Mandi Mandi, District Kandhamal. I feel that in the current situation, people used to use traditional forest products, which are forest-derived goods, in large quantities to sustain their livelihoods, but due to the lack of forests, they have disappeared. We want to restore the forests so that we can enjoy those forest products just like our ancestors used to.
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha
Currently, we are seeing that people are gradually obtaining the fruits, medicinal plants, greens, and nutritious food that were available in the forest.
— Ramadas Badanayak · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha
If I get an opportunity, I will try to restore the various types of medicinal plants that have been lost from our traditional forests.
— Susanta Toika · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
In the olden days, our parents and we used to gather and eat a lot of Barada Saga (a type of leafy green) from the forest. But now, due to deforestation, we no longer find Barada Saga. We hope to eat Barada Saga again.
— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
Our ancestors used to live, grow and maintain trees, and collect fruits and roots. Now, with all the trees gone, many conveniences are being lost. Let us all plant trees again.
— Bisendra Naik · Kasipur, Rayagada, Odisha
My name is Susmita Pradhan. We are the indigenous, original inhabitants. We wish to live in harmony with nature, producing our own food. We are demanding the government to conserve the things that are disappearing from the market. We are requesting the government to restore the forest products like roots and various forest items that are disappearing.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha
In ancient times, people used to depend on the forest for their livelihood. But now, since the forest has become depleted, they are no longer able to get tubers, leaves, fruits, and roots from the forest. Therefore, the forest in greater quantity...
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha
Let the Mahua, Char, and Kendu (products) from the forest be processed for food.
— Priti majhi
We want to bring back past millets, cuckoo, mahua, etc.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha
My name is Rashmita Pradhan. Just as our ancestors remained healthy by eating fruits and roots found in the forest, prepared without chemicals, we also wish to eat the same food now. We are from tribal-dominated areas. Our forest is our lifeline. Therefore, our ancient traditions should be restored, and our forest should not be destroyed. Thank you. Raika Kandhamal.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha
We used to gather forest products like mahua, cook them, make cakes, and eat them in the forest. Even now, we will learn from our ancestors.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Karamdihi, Sundargarh, Odisha
It is certainly remembered. Our people are destroying forests. As a result, when they go to the forest, no forest products, including food items, can be found. It would have been better if forests were not destroyed.
— jitendra khila · Lachery, Malkangiri, Odisha
We used to eat sitha saga since ancient times. Even now we wish to eat sitha saga, and we will. The forest is being destroyed now.
— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
My name is Surendra Podra. I am from Gurumundi village, Katinga Gram Panchayat, Dani block, Kandhamal district. I want to highlight the environmental degradation of today. Our ancestors used to live in the forest, depending on roots, greens, and various other things. But... I express my desire to bring back that kind of environment.
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha
Wants to eat Mukhani bhaji and Khatta Aamdi bhaji from the forest.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Our people still want to eat the old food and forest products that were cooked, whether by forest dwellers or Mughals.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha
I will collect food found in the forest and feed the children, and use it traditionally.
— Anupama Mahanand
Forest food collection
— Suna majhi · Kulusingi, Rayagada, Odisha
We all used to get forest products before, but now they are not available. Therefore, forests should be protected. It would be good if everyone remains aware.
— KusaPradhani · Tapurbuduni, Rayagada, Odisha
Earlier, a lot of edible items were found in the forests that could be eaten and added to midday meals, but now, due to damage to the forests, many things have become extinct.
— Kekti Tekam · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
I am going to the forest and collecting Kanda mushroom, medicinal type plants from the forest, bringing them, and using them.
— biswanath sahoo
Earlier, in our village's forest, we found many abundant herbs. But unfortunately, the roots of these herbs in the forest are being severely destroyed. So, we will try to keep them alive for this. I will go a bit.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Forest food
— Abhimaneu Sabar
Our ancestors lived by eating forest-grown tubers. We also now wish to prepare and eat all the food that is made through the destruction of those tubers. Therefore, we request the government to stop all of that and make arrangements.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha
From the forest, we bring mahua and mahua seeds.
— Kekti Tekam
Forest Food
— Abhimaneu Sabar
In the past, various types of forest products, fruits, and roots were available, but now it requires effort.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha
To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
My name is Rina Kuonro. We are the tribal indigenous people. We produce food and collect from the forest, and we express our desire to live with the forest or with nature. This is a humble request to the government for us, and please pay attention to the forest-derived food that we can obtain.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha
Due to the cutting of trees and plants in the village, various herbs and food items are becoming extinct. We can protect them.
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
We can bring Mahula's char tendu from the forest and use it in food and also give it to children.
— Anupama Mahanand · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
We want to bring all the traditional medicines, including roots and herbs, that are available. And we want to save the forest. All the traditional games that were played...
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
I want to bring back our old food, which is Mahula and Kakua. That will benefit us greatly.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
Mahuwa seeds, herbs, Pohri, and Putu Lakh are brought from the forest.
— Kekti Tekam
My name is Rukmini Pradhan. I wish that all the tubers, edible creepers, Amla, Baana (wild fruits/berries), and resin that we used to collect in the forest in ancient times, and by eating and drinking them, we used to live well. And currently, we were spending our lives eating food prepared without natural sustenance, without chemical fertilizers. Now we wish for all these things, and I am expressing my opinion about tubers/roots.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha
