6 research outputs found
Fuelwood and fodder consumption patterns among agroforestry-practicing smallholder farmers of the lower Himalayas, India
No full textTrees are important as a source of fuelwood and fodder for rural populations in the Himalayas. This paper analysed the fuelwood and fodder consumption patterns of rural households in 16 villages in Alaknanda Valley, Uttarakhand, northern India. The results showed that consumption of biomass from agroforestry and other sources varied significantly in different seasons. The fuelwood consumption requirement from agroforestry was an estimated 2.05, 0.63 and 1.24 kg/capita/day in winter, summer and rainy season, respectively, while the corresponding values for fuelwood from other sources were 1.16, 0.34 and 0.65 kg/capita/day, respectively. The fodder from agroforestry also contributed an estimated value of 12.96, 10.35 and 7.65 kg/adult cattle unit/day in winter, summer and the rainy season, respectively, while other sources contributed 3.53, 4.76 and 11.58 kg/ACU/day, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of agroforestry comprising suitable tree species for fuelwood and fodder in mountainous regions. Agroforestry can be a potential strategy to enhance resilience to climate change among smallholders who are fully dependent on natural resources, by reducing the risk of total crop yield losses, providing a more stable source of fuelwood and fodder, and reducing the time and energy spent on collecting resources from outside the smallholding or farm.This research did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The author has got fellowship for the study from the UGC, Government of India
Biomass loss in village ecosystems in Western Himalaya due to wild monkey interactions: A case study
Full text linkConservation faces the challenge of reconciling human activities with the simultaneous presence of wildlife in cultivated landscapes. In a study carried out in two villages of Pauri Garhwal, Western Himalaya, an attempt was made to estimate biomass and associated carbon loss due to removal of agroforestry tree species to reduce human-animal interactions. The results revealed that tree removal caused substantial biomass loss (7.370–2.444 t ha−1) and carbon loss (3.444–15.137 t ha−1) in the village of Manjgaon and Mald Bada, respectively. This indicates a need for protection of existing forests and for tree planting through reforestation and afforestation, as a measure to support food stock for monkeys in their natural habitats and to enhance carbon sequestration capacity. The success of these management practices will depend on the potential to minimise human-animal interactions, especially at the fringes of village communities and agricultural landscapes.JMA was supported by Qatar Petroleum
Dentition status and treatment need in urban slum dwellers in Indore city, Central India
No full textObjective: To estimate the dental caries experience and treatment needs of residents of slum area, in Indore.Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted in one of the largest slum areas, Panchsheel nagar of Indore, (M.P.). The sample size was estimated assuming the prevalence of dental caries to be 90% as found in the pilot study. The minimum sample required was 138. The dentition status was recorded according to the WHO guidelines. Examination was performed by the trained and calibrated examiner. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16.5 software. Results: A considerably higher prevalence (76.2%) of dental caries in the residents of slum as compared to the general population of India (50-60%) was found. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth recorded was 2.54. Statistically significant difference was found in the caries prevalence between different age groups and occupations. Males exhibited significantly higher caries experience as compared to females. Conclusion: The residents of slum have a high prevalence of dental caries. The prevalence of dental caries differed for different occupational groups and gender
Morphological and biochemical traits of some selected underutilised wild edible fruits used by the Sahariya – A PVTGs of Rajasthan
No full text53-62The purpose of the study is to document the wild edible fruits consumed by the Sahariya tribe through open ended questionnaire and morphological and biochemical analysis of four underutilised fruits viz., Buchanania lanzan Spreng., Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb., Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. and Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) Finet & Gagnep. The study had been carried out in and around villages of Shahabad and Kishanganj blocks of Baran district under South Eastern Rajasthan. A total of 39 wild edible fruits from 22 plant families were recorded and documented. Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. with higher fruit weight and diameter of 23.55 g and 34 mm respectively and high pulp percentage (>50%) in fruits indicate that wild fruits have a significantly higher amount of consumable portion with a good shelf life (3-7 days at room temperature and 6-15 days in refrigerator). Buchanania lanzan Spreng., Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. and Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. with total soluble solids 26, 22 and 22 (oBrix) respectively and total sugar content 28, 27 and 23% respectively. Buchanania lanzan Spreng. contained the ascorbic acid/vitamin C of 120 mg/100 g which is usually higher than commercially cultivated fruits. The species with the highest pH was Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) Finet & Gagnep. (5.4), resulting in the lowest titratable acidity content (0.25%), while Buchanania lanzan Spreng. had the lowest pH (3.9), resulting in the highest titratable acidity content (1.3%). The study shows that wild edible fruits are nutrient rich and well comparable with various commercial fruits
Implementation of the Use of Ethnomedicinal Plants for Curing Diseases in the Indian Himalayas and Its Role in Sustainability of Livelihoods and Socioeconomic Development
No full textIn recent times, the use of traditional herbal medicines in healthcare has declined, particularly amongst the rural population. This implies a risk of losing vital information from previous generations regarding plants and their use in traditional medicine. The objective of this study is to catalog the ways employed by inhabitants of the Garhwal Himalayas as part of their traditional approaches to healthcare. Information was gathered through snowball sampling using a questionnaire combined with informal interviews. This was supplemented by discussions with peers and practitioners prominent in this healing technique. The homogeneity within ethnomedicinal knowledge of these rural residents was tested using the informant consensus factor (Fic). The calculation of the fidelity value (FL) and the cultural importance index (CI) were made regarding the population’s dependency on plants. A total of 88 plant species from 44 families and 80 genera were identified as medicines for various complaints. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part followed by fruits, seeds, roots, bark, and flowers/buds. The largest number of taxa (15 species) were used for treatment of skin ailments (with Fic score of 0.85) followed by wounds, coughs, and digestive problems. There was a significant relationship observed between the medicinal plants used and distance (time of access) and family income. The present study will provide baseline information to be established for future research. The available information could help to discover new drugs for the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, the study revealed that the plants that have high scores of FL and CI can be used to discover new drug extraction in the future for further studies
Morphological and biochemical traits of some selected underutilised wild edible fruits used by the Sahariya – A PVTGs of Rajasthan
Full text linkThe purpose of the study is to document the wild edible fruits consumed by the Sahariya tribe through open ended questionnaire and morphological and biochemical analysis of four underutilised fruits viz., Buchanania lanzan Spreng., Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb., Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. and Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) Finet & Gagnep. The study had been carried out in and around villages of Shahabad and Kishanganj blocks of Baran district under South Eastern Rajasthan. A total of 39 wild edible fruits from 22 plant families were recorded and documented. Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. with higher fruit weight and diameter of 23.55 g and 34 mm respectively and high pulp percentage (>50%) in fruits indicate that wild fruits have a significantly higher amount of consumable portion with a good shelf life (3-7 days at room temperature and 6-15 days in refrigerator). Buchanania lanzan Spreng., Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. and Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. with total soluble solids 26, 22 and 22 (oBrix) respectively and total sugar content 28, 27 and 23% respectively. Buchanania lanzan Spreng. contained the ascorbic acid/vitamin C of 120 mg/100 g which is usually higher than commercially cultivated fruits. The species with the highest pH was Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) Finet & Gagnep. (5.4), resulting in the lowest titratable acidity content (0.25%), while Buchanania lanzan Spreng. had the lowest pH (3.9), resulting in the highest titratable acidity content (1.3%). The study shows that wild edible fruits are nutrient rich and well comparable with various commercial fruits
