MSc

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) play a crucial role in the daily life and welfare of people all
over the world. The livelihoods of the people living close to the forest and within the forests are
inextricably linked to the forest ecosystem. In Kerala, out of 4000 tribal settlements, 671
settlements are forest settlements, which depended on NTFPs for meeting their various
requirements. The present study was conducted in the Western part of Attappady among the
three tribal groups namely; Irula, Muduga and Kurumba. The main objective of the study was to
document the NTFPs collected and utilized by the tribes for their sustainable livelihood and
explore the various marketing mechanisms followed in Western Attappady. A pre-tested
questionnaire survey and semi structured interviews were conducted in fifty houses from each
community. Secondary data were collected from the cooperative societies, SC/ST Federation and
Silent Valley National Park Wildlife Warden’s Office etc.
The Irula community who are basically daily wage workers settled on the lower plains of the
valley had the highest literacy rate and obtained one per cent of their income from NTFP
collection. The Mudugas settled on the midlands had the least literacy rate and derived 9 per cent
of their income from NTFP collection. The particular vulnerable tribal group Kurumba settled in
the interior areas of the forests obtained 44 per cent of their income from NTFP collection. The
tribes of Western Attappady depended on 17 plant species for food, 19 for medicine, 8 for
construction and firewood and 6 for religious purpose. The Irulas collected 9 commercial
NTFPs, whereas Mudugas and Kurumbas collected 14 and 18 NTFPs respectively. The Irula and
Muduga were mostly involved in the collection of honey, whereas Kurumbas involved in the
collection of Acacia concinna.
The NTFPs have contributed an annual income of Rs. 5755, Rs. 27220 and Rs. 46255 to the
Irulas, Mudugas and Kurumbas households respectively.The Irulas got maximum income (Rs.
2880/annum) from honey, whereas Mudugas and Kurumbas got the highest income from
Canarium strictum (Rs. 4800/annum) and Solanum torvum (Rs 5880/annum) respectively.
Honey was collected only by men and roots were collected by women. In Irula, both the genders
made equal contribution to their income from NTFP, whereas in Mudugas the men and women
contributed 65 and 35 per cent respectively. The Kurumba women contributed 56 per cent of
their income from NTFP collection. The most of the medicinal plants whose roots were the
exploitable part were harvested during November to February. The Irulas made 30 trips/ year for
NTFP collection, whereas Mudugas and Irulas undertook 78 and 123 trips/year respectively. The
three institutions involved in the marketing of NTFPs were Kurumba Cooperative society, Eco
shop of EDC and private traders. The Kurumba was marketing most of the NTFPs through the
Kurumba society, whereas Irula and Muduga marketed NTFPs through the private shops. The private traders gave better price to the collectors than the society. For Irulas and Mudugas NTFP
collection was a subsidiary source of income, whereas for Kurumbas, it was the major source of
income. The private traders maintained a constant link with the tribes and ensured the private
marketing channels are always active.