Wild edible fruits of Manipur, India: associated traditional knowledge and implications to sustainable livelihood

The present study was carried out during 2014-16 to document the wild edible fruits of central Manipur with respect to their ethno-medicinal uses and socio-economic importance among the rural people. Altogether 49 species of fruits recorded which are represented by 22 families. Among all, Rosaceae is the most used family with 10 species, followed by Moraceae and Rutaceae by 7 species, Phyllanthaceae by 4 species, Anacardiaceae, Arecaceae and Rubiaceae each by 2 species and rest all one species each. In terms of socio economic importance of these fruits, most of the wild fruits are use for construction of houses, firewood, fodder for domestic animals and charcoals in rural life. These fruits are also use to make dyes for use in traditional handicrafts and to make oils. Most of these fruits are available in the local market, in the price range of Rs. 20 to Rs. 100 per kg. In spite of these versatile uses, these fruits have not yet been properly documented. Hence, there is urgent need to document these valuable species before they become extinct.