55 natural food sources of tribals on their way to oblivion in Dandakaranya region  

An estimated 30% of the tribals inhabiting interior forest covers are still dependent on them

A tiny town of Konta in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district is 10 km away from Chintoor, a tribal heartland of Andhra Pradesh. In winter, a maximum of 21 traditional food varieties collected from the forests of Dandakaranya region and the surrounding forests are traded at Konta.

In the winter alone, five varieties of chilli, mostly consumed by Muria and Koyas, eight varieties of tubers (dumpalu in Telugu parlance) and at least seven varieties of leafy vegetables could be procured from this shandy.

All of them are collected and brought to Konta by the tribal people inhabiting the 50-km radius on the borders of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

By November 2022, barely 30% of the tribal population living in the interior pockets within a 50 km radius from Chintoor in Alluri Sitarama Raju district are still preferring the 55 food sources, according to a study carried out by Chintoor-based NGO Jana Vikas Society (JVS).

“Those inhabiting in the interior parts of the Dandakaranya forest blocks are still collecting, consuming, preserving and selling 55 traditional food sources which have been documented since last winter. The traditional food diversity of the tribal people, whose lives came in contact with the modern lifestyles and habits, has been completely changed,” JVS Secretary Venkatesh Jatvi told The Hindu. 

The Muria tribe living in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh depends on seven species of mushroom. The mushroom species grown naturally in the bamboo plantations are dried and preserved by the Murias as they believe it contains high nutritional value.

“Muria and Gutti Koya who settled in Chintoor Agency, are still preserving and consuming five varieties of chillies — Bombay Mirchi, Borai Mirchi, Chinna and Peddakor Mirias, Black mirchi. The Koya tribe eats leafy vegetables, which are locally known as Tikkal Kuseer, Poddum Kuseer, Ithodi Kuseer and Koddel Kuseer. For Koddel Kuseer, Murias grow the plants in their backyard only for food source,” said Mr. Venkatesh.