How wild foods contribute to nutritional well-being of tribal women in India

A recent study by researchers at the Indian School of Business (ISB) revealed that wild foods play a crucial role in the dietary diversity of women in India, particularly among tribal communities.

Wild foods and tribal women

The study, titled "Wild foods contribute greatly to the dietary diversity of women in India" and published in the journal Nature Food, emphasizes the importance of wild foods in improving food and nutrition security, as well as combating malnutrition among tribal women.

The researchers collected monthly dietary data from 570 households in two forest districts of Jharkhand and West Bengal, which are predominantly inhabited by tribal communities. The study focused on food collected from forests and common lands. The findings highlighted that forest foods make a substantial contribution to the women's diet, especially during the months of June and July, when other crops are still in the growing phase.

The results demonstrated that women who ate wild foods had an average dietary diversity score that was 13% higher in June and 9% higher in July compared to those who did not forage for forest foods. It should be noted that 40% of the women in the study did not meet the minimum dietary diversity requirements over a one-year period, emphasizing the urgent need to address poor diet and nutrition.

Importance of consuming wild foods

The study underscores the importance of consuming wild foods, particularly for vulnerable women in tribal areas, during the months when other agricultural crops are not available.

Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director of the Bharti Institute for Public Policy at ISB and co-author of the study, stressed that while wild foods are often seen as delicacies affordable only for the wealthy, little is known about their importance to the nutritional security of people living in forests, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Ashwini Chhatre said wild foods are known to be delicacies that only the rich can afford, truffles and morels being examples. But we know little about how poor people depend on them and how important these wild foods are to the nutritional security of people living in forests.

Availability of wild foods

The researchers highlight the importance of incorporating knowledge about wild foods, including their availability, seasonality and abundance, into food systems analyzes and interventions aimed at improving nutrition. As climate change continues to pose threats to rainfed crops in forested regions, wild foods serve as a critical source of stability in food consumption for the most vulnerable households.

The collaborative study involved researchers from various esteemed institutions, including the Indian School of Business (ISB), South Dakota State University (USA), Humboldt University (Germany), University of Michigan (USA), Manchester University (UK), and the University of Copenhagen (Denmark).

The study's findings underscore the need for public policies that promote awareness and understanding of wild foods while safeguarding people's rights to access forests and communal lands. These measures can play a crucial role in improving nutrition and addressing the nutritional challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Keep Reading

• Interview: Keren Nazareth reveals HSI India’s tech-driven approach to animal welfare
• Interview with Nozomu Takeuchi: Impact of snow algae on melting rate of snow & ice
• INTERVIEW: MiQroTech’s founder Meade Lewis, talks about how leakage detection save the environment and more
• GR Interview with CanopyPlanet CEO: ‘India can be a hub for sustainable fashion’

Follow Ground Report for Climate Change and Under-Reported issues in India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us at [email protected].