Mahua

Aspect

Details

Botanical identity

The Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to a height of 16–20 metres, predominantly found in the forests of Central India.

Seasonal blooming cycle

The tree produces creamy-white flowers between March and April, which fall before dawn. The fruits ripen from June to August.

Cultural and Religious Value

Mahua is revered as a “Tree of Life” among tribal communities and is considered sacred. Its flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, and even fruit shells are used in everyday tribal practices, including funeral rites.

Geographical distribution

It is commonly found in West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, parts of Northern and Central India, and also in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Nutritional and Economic Role

The flowers are consumed raw or sun-dried and are highly nutritious. They are traditionally fermented to produce a strong alcoholic drink, which is a major source of livelihood for tribal families.

Livelihood support

The collection and processing of Mahua flowers support tribal economies, offering food security, employment, and income generation, especially for women collectors.

Ecological importance

Mahua’s night-blooming, strong-smelling flowers attract bats, aiding in pollination and seed dispersal. Sloth bears and other forest animals also feed on its flowers, showing its importance in the forest food web.

Inter-species Competition

Sloth bears and humans often compete for Mahua flowers and leaves, indicating their high ecological and economic demand.

Innovation and Value Addition

A new product called Mahua Nutra Beverage has been developed by TRIFED, in collaboration with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FIIT), to enhance tribal income.

Nutritional enhancement

The Mahua Nutra Beverage is blended with pomegranate juice to improve aroma, flavour, texture, and nutritional value, while masking the strong Mahua flavour.

Policy significance

This is the first such initiative in Jharkhand and in India, reflecting TRIFED’s focus on value addition of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through scientific innovation and technology transfer.