Socioeconomic Assessment of NWFP-Based Livelihoods in Tribal Communities of the Bundelkhand Region, India

Abstract

Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods, food security, and socio-economic resilience of rural and tribal communities in Bundelkhand amid increasing environmental and economic uncertainties. The present study aims to analyze the socio-economic status of tribal populations and rural communities dependent on Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) in four districts of Bundelkhand, India, namely Banda, Chitrakoot, Lalitpur, and Sonbhadra. Their economy depends widely on NWFPs to sustain the livelihoods of residing communities in semi-arid region of Bundelkhand where low erratic rainfall (250-600mm/year) hinders agriculture. Though region is blessed with diversity of natural resources available in residing forests, still community faces some challenges. Hence, the present survey study is based on primary data collected through field surveys by interviews from tribal people representing 10 per cent of total population from each district. The analysis of collected data and information indicate that a significant proportion of households i.e., about 45 per cent of community depend on NWFPs for income generation and subsistence needs, especially during agricultural lean periods. Study has compiled the information collected more than 300 respondents belonging age group 25-50 years old using structured questionnaires. It was found that despite importance of NWFPs in studied region, these products have remain underutilized due to policy, institutional constraints, low literacy levels, exploitation by middlemen, lack of awareness rights etc. Though, tribal women play a dominant role in the collection and selling of extracted products from trees such as tendu leaves, mahua flowers and medicinal parts in the local markets. However, issues such as lack of market access, inadequate infrastructure, and exploitation by intermediaries limit the economic potential of raw products other than timber. Additionally, traditional knowledge should be documented and evaluated to ensure sustainability and conservation awareness. The extension activities along with present surveys have been conducted to create awareness on value addition of procured raw products from forest such as ‘Mahua laddu’ has been prepared using flowers of Madhuca longifolia.