Economic and Environmental Considerations in Collection and Processing of Winged Termites as Food in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

There are several species under the head “Winged Termites”. In the entomologists’ Point of view, they are asset destroying agents and in the biological sense, they are friends of farmers and in the consumption point of view, they are highly nutritious and capable of curing certain contagious diseases. Among the many species of winged termites, few species are widely collected by tribes and the rural people during the season and they process and value add the termites along with certain ingredients and make a tasty and enjoyable food products. The popular species among the winged termite is Odontotermes formosanus which is a rich source of protein, thus forming an important diet for pregnant women and children in the rural settings. Though many south Indian tribes are engaged in the collection process, other rural communities are also greatly involved in collecting, preserving and value adding the produce of termites. This paper presents the method of collection, preservation and value addition methods and distribution for consumption both in the rural and semi urban environments.