Mahua is a multipurpose tree that furnishes the tribals with all-inclusive resources for livelihood sustenance. It bestows the rural inhabitants with basic requirements of food, fuel and timber as well as fodder, beverage, edible oil, traditional medicine, and farm applications. Mahua and its uses are embedded deep into the culture, customs, and traditions of ethnic communities in Madhya Pradesh. The spirit obtained from the distillation of its flowers is the predominant alcoholic beverage consumed by locals. The sale of Mahua, mainly flower and seed, and their derivative products, offers considerable income generation in addition to subsistence. The cultivation of mahua across various systems-whether in monoculture plantations, agroforestry frameworks, or ornamental horticulture exhibits significant potential for enhancing the socioeconomic conditions of tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh.
Mahua, tribal livelihood, livelihood sustenance
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