International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Dipanjali Garnaik, Dr. Chitrotpala Devadarshini and Dr. Diptimayee Jena

abstract
The study was documented the indigenous edible food items and their nutritional values which were available in tribal areas of Kandhamal district, Odisha. Data were collected from 2 tribal villages (Brengudaand Penala) belongs to Desia Kandha (Desia Khonds) tribe of Kandhamal district by using pretested questionnaire developed. Total 80 tribal women were selected by random sampling method from two different villages of Kandhamal. Forty women were selected from Brenguda village and another 40 were selected from Penala village of Kandhamal district. There were 43 major indigenous foods of Kandhamal. Many of wild foods were still have not identified scientifically. The indigenous foods have high nutritional value. The cultivated foods (pigeon pea, horse gram, etc.) were consumed by the tribals of Kandhamal on regular basis. Some foods like taro, arrowroot, French bean etc. they were cultivated and sell it in the market to support their livelihood and consumed it rarely, as said by the villagers. The wild foods were also used for their livelihood support and only consumed during shortage of food which having high nutritional values and can be used as alternative option of main food items. Thus public awareness need to be encouraged to improve the nutritional knowledge of tribal communities of Kandhamal.