More than intoxicating

Yet government policy has forced many people to give up mahua -- their nutritious staple food

Can mahua seeds provide Adivasis a reliable livelihood? 

Mahua seed harvesting practices of the tribals are non-invasive & can promote conservation 

Flower power

Bastar witnessed more forest fires than Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal

FSI’s satellite data show that while Pauri Garhwal recorded 471 instances of forest fires, the highest in Uttarakhand, Bastar recorded 555 …

Butter fruit

Shalini Dhyani explores the forgotten virtues of mahua fruit and seed oil

Fear of another COVID-19 lockdown spurs distress sale of mahua flowers

Odisha tribals remember financial hit during 2020 pandemic containment measures

Tree-borne oilseeds can reduce India's import dependency

If government promotes indigenous production of vegetable oils, it can create new markets while providing employment to marginalised communities

Intoxicatingly delicious

With increasing urbanisation and changing food habits, very few people are aware of the mahua fruit and its oil, let alone its health benefits

Five traditional foods you must try at home

From the fiery rhododendron of the lush hills to the flavourful pearl millet (bajra) of the drought-hit plains, we bring you a selection of five …

Odisha tops forest fire counts in the country for a week

5,291 forest fires recorded between February 22 and March 1, 2021

Hottest in India: Angul boils at 40°C in February

Soaring temperatures spark forest fires across Odisha, officials say loss ‘extensive’

India simply does not acknowledge forest drought

Severe dry spells in Indian forests have hit the livelihood of more than 100 million people

Maharashtra forest department bans collection of tendu leaves from areas prone to forest fires

Tendu contractors and gram panchayats to be responsible for prevention and extinguishing of fires

IN PICTURES: The vibrant, colourful world of Bastar’s haat bazaars

Colourful bamboo baskets, laughter of women sipping away at mahua, sweets to devour — haat bazaars of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, are a different …

Similipal fire: Lives and livelihoods of Mankidia tribals in distress

The Mankidia tribe earn by collecting and selling siali fibre from Similipal forests; the fire has badly impacted their livelihood 

Similipal forest fires put Odisha’s Lodha tribe in jeopardy

Already affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, the wildfires threaten to make collection of minor forest produce even more difficult

COVID-19 lockdown: Odisha’s mahua flower collectors left in lurch

The state’s tribal economy intrinsically runs on mahua flower trade in summers

A natural secret

Policymakers don't need to go too far to eradicate poverty. The solution is as close as is a village well to a villager

Mandla Brimful of thirst

Average rainfall: 1,300 mm Irrigation: 2% of gross cropped area

Sarguja Losing battle

First district for tribal development Rampant deforestation Malnutrition and starvation deaths

Dungarpur A 'common' death

Once rich in forest and grazing land Now known as 20th century desert 68% population 'marginal and unemployed'

Phulbani Access to poverty

Sal forest worth: Rs 30,000 crore 85% population dependent on forest 65% people below poverty line

Super Market

Secretive. Exploitative. Is the market in Minor Forest Produce unmanageable? sopan joshi finds out

Profit an illusion for these Madhya Pradesh tribals forced to sell products to middlemen

Most of the tribal families here sell their products to intermediaries because of the unavailability of proper markets