A dimension within Traditional Food Systems
Explores traditional farming, food security, and the cultural significance of food within tribal communities.
150 voices speak to this
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Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
In Sonbhadra, an elder reflects on the community's evolving traditions, from festive celebrations and unique tribal customs to environmental shifts and new livelihoods, holding onto the hope of preser
Our ancestors lived long and healthy lives by cultivating traditional crops without chemicals and consuming nourishing forest roots, a practice many now wish to revive.
The people of Udulibeda emphasize the vital role of traditional knowledge in cultivating local foods, stewarding the land, and ensuring their community's self-sufficiency for generations to come.
In Ranchi, a tribal woman navigates the evolving landscape, balancing the deep-rooted traditions of zero-irrigation farming and cultural preservation with the promises of modern development initiative
Earlier, we used to keep seeds in earthen pots with neem leaves, but now those pots are not available. Their traditional profession is slowly coming to an end, and we are also forced to move towards modernity.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
Our traditional seeds are exhausted, the old seeds are no longer available.
— Kachala Choudhary
The situation we are in now is that the food we used to get to eat in the past has gradually disappeared.
— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
Our ancestors used to farm with plows and bullocks. But nowadays, all those things are disappearing.
— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, Odisha
Now, old farming is not practiced.
— Kachala Choudhary
Yes, we save our traditional seeds, but now the seeds have run out.
— Kachala Choudhary
We are gradually destroying the traditional seeds of ancient times. We should preserve those seeds. Otherwise, some medicines and plants are leading to their extinction.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Gitilāta, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Producing through traditional agriculture, farming without fertilizer. Various types of fruits, medicinal plants and creepers etc. found in forests are no longer available.
— KAPAL MARNDI · Bissamcuttack, Rayagada, Odisha
People are no longer eating Kodo, Gulji, Mandia, Gongei, Pithalu, Kandha, Chhuali Kandha, and other such items.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
We have run out of old seeds.
— Kachala Choudhary
Nowadays, people from the tribal community do not prefer to eat tribal food, as a result of which tribal traditions are being lost.
— Arati Khandapatra
Our ancestors used to cultivate without fertilizer, and that was delicious and healthy. But now, that taste is not available.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
Yes, damage has definitely occurred. Previously, people used to obtain two traditional food items by cutting trees from the forest. Now, these are not available. Furthermore, there has been extensive damage to medicinal plants, and those are also not available.
— gobardhan pangi
If we do not make some effort, we will lose our traditional seeds, medicinal herbs, pure environment, air, etc.
— Kachala Choudhary
Nutritious food is not available from farming as before; all food available is cultivated with fertilizers. Various root-based foods are also not available in the forest.
— KAPAL MARNDI · Bissamcuttack, Rayagada, Odisha
Very few native seeds are left, our indigenous seeds are getting depleted, due to the arrival of corporate seeds.
— Kachala Choudhary
Old, traditional foods are not available. As a result, the forest was also destroyed. The food that should be available is not available.
— Keshab Majhi · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
What our ancestors used to obtain, now 90% of the forest has been destroyed. With the destruction of forests, the hills have also been destroyed. Whatever materials we used to find, especially food items, are no longer available.
— jitendra khila · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
Today, when we talk about forest products, things like root vegetables and fruits such as Kendu, Baheda, and Harida, which also had medicinal properties, are no longer available. They have now become extinct or are found in very small quantities.
— Debendra Suna · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
In earlier times, medicinal fruits were found in the forest, but now those things are becoming extinct day by day.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
In our area, in very old times, there were Sama, Kodo, Meijri (types of millets) for eating. Diseases were not caused by this. Today, whatever is being eaten as hybrid, all this is on the verge of causing diseases.
— ANIL KUMAR · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Sir, even the items used for worship during festivals are currently not being utilized. It's as if our cultural, traditional, and festive practices are on the verge of disappearing.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Gitilāta, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Humans used to have very useful things. Now, beneficial things have died out. Therefore, since those things are no longer present, our country has become very polluted. As a result, even birds are not there.
— swornalata nayak · Balangir, Odisha
We will forget our ancient traditions
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Karamdihi, Sundargarh, Odisha
No, the old traditional seeds are no longer available, so now we immediately buy them and use the seeds.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Forests are disappearing, livelihoods are being destroyed. Forests are also getting depleted, herbs are disappearing. It's not like it used to be.
— Chanda · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Oh, there is also a distinct language of our Gonda society. And no one speaks that language anymore, slowly it has also disappeared. And now what we used to get from the forest, we are not getting it from the forest anymore, all the forests are cut down.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
If we don't do something in the next 20 years, our traditional seeds could disappear.
— Kachala Choudhary
They used to make wooden presses for extracting oil. All of that is disappearing and will become extinct in the next 20 years.
— ANIL KUMAR · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We are no longer getting manure for our farming because people are not keeping cattle anymore. Everyone relies on chemical fertilizers, which is why we are becoming more prone to diseases.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
Our culture, karma, and all these things that existed before – music, songs, Birha, Qawwali – are gradually disappearing today. Tribal people are no longer able to perform them.
— deena rawat · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Earlier, a lot of edible items were found in the forests that could be eaten and added to midday meals, but now, due to damage to the forests, many things have become extinct.
— Kekti Tekam · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We used to add organic fertilizer to our fields to maintain soil fertility, but today's youth are using chemical fertilizers, and diseases are increasing day by day.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
We have been living in our village for 100 years. Nowadays, there are no animals. The forests are also dwindling, and songs and dances are also disappearing.
— sudhir gamanga · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
In the next 20 years, Tenu, PR, and all such highly nutritious items will become extinct.
— ANIL KUMAR · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Fruit trees and vegetable plants have disappeared from our forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
Our culture's traditions are now on the verge of extinction. The Danda Nrutya, Ghumura, and Nachania performers that once existed have all disappeared, and with them, the art and culture.
— Padmini Bhoi
Ramesh 🙏, we are currently experiencing a shortage of the Kodo, Foxtail, and Finger millets that we previously had.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
Humans used to have many useful things, but now those useful things are gone. Therefore, since those things are no longer present, our country has become very polluted. Therefore, birds...
— Parikshit Majhi · Balangir, Odisha
They do not practice traditional farming and traditional seed conservation.
— Gopal
