"Ethnobotanical Explorations : A Guide To Wild Edible Fruits Used By Migratory Shepherds In The Himalayan Region "

Wild plants have received great importance at different places given their ability to provide nutrients during scarcity periods and protection for minor health conditions. Wild edible plants have also played important role in complementing staple agricultural foods. Also, these plant species have a high potential for exploitation as a source of new medicine or as a source of some rare vitamins, minerals, specific amino acids or fatty acids. They are widely consumed in the rural Himalayan region and are potential source of various compounds thus also used in folk medicines. These wild fruits are an important supplementary source of food for people living in the remote areas of Himachal Pradesh. The state is blessed with rich flora diversity as well as animal diversity forming part of the different climatic zones of the Himalayan region. Collection of fruits from wild areas for food and domesticating these plants for multipurpose use is an age-old practice worldwide. Himachal Pradesh also constitutes a good proportion of these wild fruit species which may serve as an alternate source of income to the rural masses. Wild fruits together with their products can be used to ensure food security during the period of scarcity and their availability round the year can supplement food and nutrition or can become the source of income for the local inhabitants. During last few decades, forest has receded away from the villages and have been considerably degraded resulting in very negligible or non-availability of many wild fruits. A few species with economic importance were identified and commercially utilized, however, a vast reservoir of edible fruit species remain relatively underexplored and exist in wild form. Wild fruits are mostly eaten raw and few are consumed in processed or cooked forms by the local inhabitants. These are rich source of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and other elements but they have not yet been considered as a source of alternative food products.