MINOR FRUITS: A LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TRIBAL PEOPLES OF TRIPURA

Abstract

Tripura is a hilly and land locked state located in the the south-west extreme corner of the north eastern region of India. The state has a long international border (nearly 84%) surrounded on three sides by Bangladesh. This state stretches from latitude 22°56’ and 24°32’ north to longitude 91°10’ and 92°21’ east with a total geographical area of about 10.491 km2 of which 70% is hill with dense forest and 27% is under cultivation. The agro-climatic conditions (humid subtropical) are fertile and acidic so good depth and abundant rainfall favour the cultivation of different minor fruit crops like jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophylus), bael (Aegle marmelos), ber or Indian jujube (Zyziphus mauritiana), chalta or elephant apple (Dillenia indica), jamun (Syzygium cumini), fig (Ficus carica), jalpai (Elaeocarpus floribundus), loquat (Eribotrya japonica), karonda (Carissa carandas), star apple or caimito (Chrysophyllum cainto), star aonla (Phyllanthus acidus), amrat (Spondias pinnata), wood apple (Feronia limonia) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica). These crops are easier to grow and hardy in nature, producing a crop even under adverse soil and climatic conditions. Moreover, these crops are playing a vital role in nutrition and livelihood for rural and tribal masses for employment and income generation. The land holding pattern in Tripura reveals that nearly 90% of the farmers are small and marginal; hence, the minor crops are ideal for cultivation because of their low input requirement, less production cost, higher nutritive value and high yield. Apart from nutritive value, minor fruits are particularly more important for medicinal properties and famous for the retentive value in Ayurvedic medicine. Most people are familiar with the medicinal properties of locally grown minor fruits. The region is one of the richest reservoirs of genetic variability and diversity of different minor fruits, which exists in plant types, morphological and physiological variations, resistance to disease and pests, adaptability and distribution. It lays emphasis on exploiting the potential usefulness of such valuable resources, in combating the challenges of food and nutritional security to the ever-increasing population. This paper will focus on the potential of minor fruits and their utility in tribal and other areas of Tripura.