FRIDAY, 06 APRIL 2012
23:49
SUDHIR MISHRA |
BALANGIR
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The livelihood of thousands of poor villagers in Balangir and
other districts in western Odisha stands threatened due to decline in natural
fall of Mahul flower this year. The reduction in Mahul trees due to
indiscriminate felling has added insult to injury.
Mahul flower is found mostly in
western parts of Odisha and in the KBK region. It is a source of livelihood for
millions of poor people who collect the flower in early morning strewn under
the Mahul trees. They earn their livelihood three to four months in a year by
selling the Mahul flower. However, the decline in fall of Mahul flower this
year has been a cause of concern for these people. It is attributed to
irregularities in the climate.
“Last year, there was heavy fall of
Mahua flowers in our village. However, this year the quantity of the flowers
fallen has come down,” says Pitambar Rana of Budha Bahal village.
“We start collection of Mahul flowers
in early morning, which continues till noon. After collecting, we dry them for
around four days in the sun and then sell them off. It is either the
businessman or his agents who collect the flowers from us. On an average, a
day’s hard work gives us `100-120,” Pitambar says further. Earlier, there were
a large number of trees in our villages and the number has come down in recent
years, he rues.
Mahul flowers fall naturally on the
soil. But this year, we are experiencing peculiar weather situation. These days
we are experiencing heat in the day and cold at night. The chill of the night
is affecting the fall of Mahul flowers, Lambodar Mahakur, a village youth says.
The number of Mahul trees in our
village has also come down in our villages. Now there are around 290 Mahul
trees. We have allotted it to 25 poor villagers who survive by collecting and
selling it for two to three months. And the villagers contribute a token of
money to the village fund which is utilised for community development,
emergency medical expense and in the local festival Ramlila, which the
villagers have been celebrating for last 37years, says Achyutananda Mishra of
Budhabahal village.
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As NTFP is second crop for people of rural area in western orissa and KBK region, it should be treated as drought of NTFP. People should be compensated.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sudhir for posting this news.
ReplyDeleteMy experience goes that the flowering of Mahua varies from year to year. Some years we have bumper crop and some years we have very little. This is because of climatic conditions and the carrying capacity of these trees. As there is already an impact of climate change, flowering of Mahua might have been affected. The Mahuli Shita ( Chill in the month of Chaitra ) is not there any more.
This decline is in a way good as it will have a bearing on liquor production. The Liquor policy has to change accordingly, particularly in tribal areas.
It is high time that the alternative use of Mahua is to be planned. Mahua as a cattle feed is of limited use. Mahua's nutritional value must have been measured by the National Institute of Nutrition. Mahua flowers, I am told, can be part of Ready to Eat Food. If Nestle type companies will sale it, it will have instant acceptance to our middle class. The questions remains what is the research need and what is the marketing strategy.
Please take the issue to the higher level and I am sure you can.
Thanks Sudhirbhai for bringing out such an issue which is closely associated with tribal culture. Just to Add to Achyutbhai's view, Vasundhara with support from Department of Science Technology has been preapring the Mahua Jam and have been well appreciated. But rightly said would this product have been marketed bty Nestle or any other brands, its acceptance with consumers could have been many fold.
ReplyDeleteif we see the trend of Mahua Flowering , there is no such definite scale, rather it varies from year to year but declining in mahua flowering consistently for a longer period might be of serious concern. In order to come to a conclusion for cause of decline it is essential to record all the facts including meterological parametres.
Sudhir da,congrats..!
ReplyDeleteIn a proper time, you did cover a suitable news to draw attention people and planners.
This year people are going through a difficult time because of severe loss of paddy crop and subsequent drought.
Your news indicates that the another drought,due to decline in naturally available Mahul flower and decreasing number mahul tree is likely..We Know that mahul is one of the best NTFPs which “manages” the food stress period of poor people.
Experience says expecting a better harvest of Mahul and return from it, some people even don't migrate .Mahul helps to more to the most marginalized sections of people and check their hunger period of than others.
However, due to the deviation of it, in this year, impact of drought on poor people would be more and their life would be miserable.
My suggestion is everyone should think about it. Government also try to adopt the proper storage mechanism, rate fixation, marketing & protection and conservation of Mahul trees.
Lastly, thanks for your continuous efforts.
Regards,
Bhajaram sahu
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This year in bastar too there is hardly any mahua fall.
ReplyDeleteNandini Sundar.
Thanks Sudhirbabu for the information
ReplyDeleteWith regards
Kailash
Dear friends,
ReplyDeleteWe are having the alternative solutions for preparation of different value added products from mahua flower, which can not only add the nutrients to the consumers on the other hand the medicinal value of the same will also help. That means the edible products from the mahua flower can be treated as a nutracetical.
Mahua flower is a source of additional support to poor rural mass of western Odisha. Fall in production definitely discourage them. If nutritious processed food prepared from this apart from liquor preparation the primary cost of raw flower and people will be benefited.
ReplyDelete