Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India
This study brings out the critical role of lesser-known local plant species in the food, nutrition and livelihood security of Adi community in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Considering women as a major custodian in knowledge and practices on foods, a total of 90 Adi women and 60 key knowledgeable commun...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.590978/full |
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| author | Ranjay K. Singh Rakesh Bhardwaj Anamika Singh Temin Payum Arvind K. Rai Anshuman Singh Lobsang Wangchu Sanjay Upadhyay |
| author_facet | Ranjay K. Singh Rakesh Bhardwaj Anamika Singh Temin Payum Arvind K. Rai Anshuman Singh Lobsang Wangchu Sanjay Upadhyay |
| author_sort | Ranjay K. Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study brings out the critical role of lesser-known local plant species in the food, nutrition and livelihood security of Adi community in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Considering women as a major custodian in knowledge and practices on foods, a total of 90 Adi women and 60 key knowledgeable community members (thus a total of 150 participants) were selected from East Siang and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Data were collected using combination of methods including recipe contest, focus group discussion, personal interviews and laboratory analyses. The results indicated that Adi women were able to identify 39 bioculturally important species from a range of locally available plant species. Used alone or with other foods, these plants remain central to the Adi people's cultural identity and livelihood security. In addition to improving food and nutritional security, these species accessed from different land use systems, are also sold on the local markets to generate decent incomes. Of the species identified by Adi women, 28 were culturally shared and used frequently in food and ethnomedicine. Laboratory analyses of the selected 22 species revealed exceptionally high levels of minerals and other nutrients, such as proteins and anti-oxidants, supporting their traditional use for health benefits. Our study results provide valuable insights to the researchers to explore the vast hidden potential of these and other similar species for improving nutritional well-being of local communities in marginal areas. Adequate policy support is needed to enable Adi and other such marginalized communities to cope with challenges being posed to traditional food systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:41:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc45c31fa8354f088298d738b5fb6471 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:41:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc45c31fa8354f088298d738b5fb64712022-12-21T17:16:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2021-08-01810.3389/fnut.2021.590978590978Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, IndiaRanjay K. Singh0Rakesh Bhardwaj1Anamika Singh2Temin Payum3Arvind K. Rai4Anshuman Singh5Lobsang Wangchu6Sanjay Upadhyay7College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, IndiaCollege of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, IndiaBanaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IndiaDepartment of Botany, JN College, Pasighat, IndiaCollege of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, IndiaICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, IndiaCollege of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, IndiaCollege of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, IndiaThis study brings out the critical role of lesser-known local plant species in the food, nutrition and livelihood security of Adi community in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Considering women as a major custodian in knowledge and practices on foods, a total of 90 Adi women and 60 key knowledgeable community members (thus a total of 150 participants) were selected from East Siang and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Data were collected using combination of methods including recipe contest, focus group discussion, personal interviews and laboratory analyses. The results indicated that Adi women were able to identify 39 bioculturally important species from a range of locally available plant species. Used alone or with other foods, these plants remain central to the Adi people's cultural identity and livelihood security. In addition to improving food and nutritional security, these species accessed from different land use systems, are also sold on the local markets to generate decent incomes. Of the species identified by Adi women, 28 were culturally shared and used frequently in food and ethnomedicine. Laboratory analyses of the selected 22 species revealed exceptionally high levels of minerals and other nutrients, such as proteins and anti-oxidants, supporting their traditional use for health benefits. Our study results provide valuable insights to the researchers to explore the vast hidden potential of these and other similar species for improving nutritional well-being of local communities in marginal areas. Adequate policy support is needed to enable Adi and other such marginalized communities to cope with challenges being posed to traditional food systems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.590978/fullwild edible plantsbiocultural knowledgenutritional valuesethnomedicinerecipe contestfood and nutritional policies |
| spellingShingle | Ranjay K. Singh Rakesh Bhardwaj Anamika Singh Temin Payum Arvind K. Rai Anshuman Singh Lobsang Wangchu Sanjay Upadhyay Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India Frontiers in Nutrition wild edible plants biocultural knowledge nutritional values ethnomedicine recipe contest food and nutritional policies |
| title | Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| title_full | Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| title_fullStr | Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| title_short | Mainstreaming Local Food Species for Nutritional and Livelihood Security: Insights From Traditional Food Systems of Adi Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| title_sort | mainstreaming local food species for nutritional and livelihood security insights from traditional food systems of adi community of arunachal pradesh india |
| topic | wild edible plants biocultural knowledge nutritional values ethnomedicine recipe contest food and nutritional policies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.590978/full |
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