The Girijan Cooperative Corporation is likely to increase the procurement price of dry mahua flower from ₹20 per kg to ₹25 per kg.
This is good news for Adivasis of Adilabad and neighbouring districts who since the last few decades have also started to attach some commercial value to the traditionally important mahua tree (Madhuca indica).
The government needs to issue relevant order soon as the GCC has already purchased 3,000 quintals of this important minor forest produce. At least those who have not sold it can get advantage from an early announcement.
Alternative crop
“The tree is actually a part of the traditional beliefs of the Raj Gond and Kolam Adivasis in these parts. They consider it an alternative crop,” GCC Utnoor Divisional Manager N. Vijay Kumar said explaining its importance.
Mahua is considered a kalpavriksha as it has enormous utility and spiritual value for them and these trees are worshipped before launch of the flower collection season.
Traditionally, every Adivasi family used to own at least five mahua trees in and around their habitations. In the flowering season, which spans for about a month starting late February and ending March, each tree yields about 200 kg to 300 kg of the flower.
The flower when dried loses about half its weight.
High utility
The sweet dried flowers, which are now sold through the GCC, are used to brew the heady mahua liquor or ippa sara. The flour of the dried flower is used to make rotis. “It provides sustenance during droughts,” points out Kanaka Ambaji Rao of Marlavai elaborating on its utility to the ordinary tribal.
The tribals used to traditionally extract edible oil from the kernel of mahua seeds. With the packaged edible oil available in the market, the oil extraction has come down. However, mahua oil is still used in specific religious rituals. “Though the medicinal use is decreasing, mahua oil and leaves are used to provide relief from digestive disorders and the bark is used to cure malaria and jaundice. The oil cake is used as manure in chilli and tobacco crops,” Mr. Ambaji Rao said.
Tribal beliefs
“As far as beliefs are concerned, the Raj Gonds perform the marriage of Chanchi Bheema, one of their gods, under the mahua tree before the sowing starts. Also, they perform the Shivabodi puja under a mahua tree on the village boundary to protect the habitation from evil eye and diseases,” he added.
