Trade of Wild Edible Plants in all Women Market in Manipur, India

Abstract

The Himalayan states, especially the rural populations of the North East India, are well known for their reliance on wild edible plants (WEPs) for survival and sustenance. The rural people of Manipur collect a variety of wild vegetables, mushrooms, and wild fruits from nearby forests to meet their daily needs as well as to generate income by selling them in various markets, which have provided them with employment opportunities. Extensive market surveys were carried during various seasons of 2018 in all women market popularly known as “Ima Market” in Imphal valley of Manipur, perhaps the oldest and only one of its kind in Asia, to record the traded WEPs. The study was undertaken to analysis the role of various trader trading WEPs and supply chain in the market. The study revealed a total of 54 species of wild edible plants belonging to 36 families that are traded in the Ima market. Of which 44 species are used as vegetables and 10 species as supplementary fruits diet. Although there is availability of high resource diversity and potential in the state but due to poor connectivity issue these bio-resources are not being efficiently commercialized. The prospects of trading WEPs can be enhanced by setting up micro-enterprise infrastructure and imparting the necessary skills for food processing, value addition, and storage facilities by providing scientific techniques and commercial inputs.