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Nurturing Traditions: An International Refereed Journal on Himalay
Bi-annual (Spring, Autumn)
ISSN : Applied For
Current Issue
6. Significance of wild eatables in traditional diet with specific reference to Stinging nettle
Vasudha Pant
Secretary, Green Hills Trust, Kranti Kutir,
East Pokharkhali, Almora-263601 Uttarakhand
(Abstract)
Among the cultivated species few are meeting more than 90% of food demand. It is worrisome if something happens to one or two major species under the present crisis of climate change. Obviously, the ‘climate change’ and ‘sustainable livelihood’ are the most conversed and debated issues of today’s scientific and social forums to formulate guiding lines for the policy makers all over the world. The diet of rural and indigenous communities is still diverse. These still use wild plants for food. One of valuable wild plants, which constituted traditional diet, is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). This much-ignored plant has multiple uses as food, fiber, medicine as well as for enhancing soil fertility. However, once used as an edible plant by many, nettle does not enjoy much importance among the residents of Uttarakhand. Therefore, whole scenario calls for the new strategies in Uttarakhand for involving traditional food habits and local resources.