Wild edible plants and rural socio-economic systems in Marathwada, Maharashtra, India.
Navalsingh J. Todawat
Department of Botany, Moreshwar Arts, Science and Commerce College, Bhokardan, Jalna - 431114 (India) email-njtodawat@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
A total of 23 wild edible plant species belonging to 14 families traditionally used by rural communities of the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, were recorded during the present study. Among the documented species, several plants were found to contribute significantly to household nutrition and socio-economic support of rural populations. The highest number of edible species belonged to the family Amaranthaceae (5 species), followed by Fabaceae (4 species) and Cucurbitaceae (2 species), while other families were represented by one species each. The commonly utilized edible parts included leaves and leafy shoots (9 species), followed by fruits (8 species), tubers (2 species), flowers (2 species), and seeds (1 species). It was observed that leafy vegetables and fruits together constituted a major proportion of the diet derived from forest and agro-ecosystems of the region. These wild edible plants not only supplement daily food requirements, but also provide additional income through their sale in local markets. The study emphasizes the nutritional potential of wild edible plant resources and suggests their conservation, domestication, and value addition for enhancing food security and sustainable rural livelihoods in the Marathwada region.