Contribution of Underutilized Wild Edibles Extracted from Urban Landscapes for Food Security and Socio-Ecological Resilience in Kashmir

IA Peerzada, MA Islam, TH Masoodi… - Urban Foraging in the …, 2024 - Springer
IA Peerzada, MA Islam, TH Masoodi, SA Gangoo, PA Sofi, AR Malik, T Mushtaq, NA Pala
Urban Foraging in the Changing World, 2024Springer
The significance of wild edibles in supporting the food and nutritional security of
underprivileged communities has been acknowledged. However, there is a lack of adequate
information on the extraction, consumption, and trade patterns of wild edibles in urban
landscapes, and their actual contribution has not been estimated in Kashmir. Therefore, this
study was conducted to explore the diversity, extraction and consumption patterns, and trade
of wild edibles in urban landscapes of the Srinagar district of Kashmir Himalayas. A …
Abstract
The significance of wild edibles in supporting the food and nutritional security of underprivileged communities has been acknowledged. However, there is a lack of adequate information on the extraction, consumption, and trade patterns of wild edibles in urban landscapes, and their actual contribution has not been estimated in Kashmir. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the diversity, extraction and consumption patterns, and trade of wild edibles in urban landscapes of the Srinagar district of Kashmir Himalayas. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select a sample of (106) households for the survey. Data were collected through structured interviews, non-participant observation, and focus group discussions. Simple descriptive statistics including frequency, percentages, averages, and others were used for data analysis to identify the key socio-economic characteristics of sample respondents, quantify the wild edibles extracted, estimate its economic value, and determine the potential of wild edibles in securing the food and nutritional security. Results revealed that wild edibles constituted 28 species of the flora and fauna belonging to 28 genera and 20 families. Wild edibles were consumed mostly as vegetables (14) followed by wild fruits (7), wild nuts (3), fish (2), mushroom (1), and honey (1). The total economic value of household annual consumption of foods was 6,121,460.50 @ ₹57,749.63 per household per year, of which wild edibles contributed the lowest share (2.26%) and ranked 9th. It is therefore concluded that the potential of wild edibles needs due prioritization and exploitation in urban landscapes for providing food and nutritional security to the local inhabitants.
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