International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials

Korean Society of Sericultural Science (한국잠사학회)
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Utilization of snails as food and therapeutic agents by Baiga tribals of Baihar tehsil of Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh, India

  • Baghele, Mahendra (Department of Life Science, Sardar Patel University) ;
  • Mishra, Shubhi (Department of Life Science, Sardar Patel University) ;
  • Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno (Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University) ;
  • Jung, Chuleui (Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University) ;
  • Ghosh, Sampat (Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University)
  • Received : 2021.10.29
  • Accepted : 2021.12.15
  • Published : 2021.12.31
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Abstract

We explored the indigenous local knowledge associated with the use of snails by Baiga people in Baihar tehsil of Balaghat district in central India through interview with a semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that Baiga people widely accept snails of 3-5 morpho-groups belonging to Ampullariidae, and Viviparidae family as food. Besides, use of snail as therapeutic agents for ailments like body ache, joint pain, digestion, weakness of bones etc. were found common. Hand-picking of snails from the wild environments as well as agriculture field was the primary way of harvesting edible snails. We advocate the development of a farming system for the continuous supply of snails as a food resource, advancement of scientific investigation of functional properties of them, economic progress of the region and therefore the overall sustainability.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We sincerely acknowledge the respondents (Baiga people) for their time and kind response. Also we extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Ashok Yadav, school teacher of Limoti Government School for his guidance and help during our field surveys and Mr. Kisan Korram for providing photographs. We also acknowledge NRF (South Korea) grant for partial support. NRF grant (NRF-2018R1A6A1A03024862) of Korea for partial support.

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