Forest economy of the pengaparaja and the depleting forest resources.
Mishra S.
Author Affiliation: Visiting Faculty in Sociology, At/Po Katapali Via. Bardol, Dist. Bargarh, Odisha 768 038, India.
International Research Journal of Social Sciences 4 : 37-46
Abstract : The forest inhabited by the pengaparaja absurd in several types of trees that provides them edible fruits, leaves and flowers. Among such trees conspicuous are aam (mango), mahul (mahua flower), tentuli (tamarind), panas (jack fruit), kendu (tendu) and jamu (black berry) which provide them with plentiful of fruits. Besides the fruits, the Pengaparaja also get a number of other foods from the surrounding forest. The forest, in addition, also provides suitable setting for the abode of the wild animals, some of which are suitable games for the Pengaparja. They also earn some of their livelihood through the sale of MFPs. In spite of various constraints like less amount of availability in comparison to the labour involved, problem of marketability and hazardous access to the forest, the Pengaparaja collect a number of commercially important MFPs along with the produces of their essential use. A good number of Pengaparja from the villages having depleted forest resources engage themselves in silling fuel wood as a source of income.