Traditionally and Culturally Indispensable Food Consumed by Adivasi women of Kalahandi and Koraput district, Odisha: A Descriptive study

Abstract

Adivasis are racial group a distinct class of people living mostly in the hills and forest and lead a primitive lifestyle. This paper discusses about the use of culturally important indigenous biodiversity used by Adivasi women as food and medicines. 400 Adivasi women were purposively selected from the two selected district (Kalahandi and Koraput district). The objectives of the study were to study the food habits and medicinal practices of the Adivasi women in diverse socio economic system. Interview schedule was used for data collection and data analysis was done through appropriate statistical method. Results of the study reveals that in Koraput district, maximum number of respondents consumed indigenous flowers, cereals and cereals products and pulses in comparison to Kalahandi district.  A number of uncultivated indigenous plants and crop resources are used to prepare traditional foods. A variety of medicinal plants were used for curing different ailments in their locality.