The pandemic has its negative and positive sides, though it had spread like wildfire and affected millions of people around the globe, at the same time created self-realization that they can go back to nature for survival where they can’t just depend on the food sold in the market.

Social Service Centre (SSC), Shillong in its journey has been working and taking initiative in bringing back the wild edibles that many of the community people have neglected and forgotten. We have encouraged and motivated community people on the importance of consumption of wild edibles, and to conserve for the future as they are available in the community, Said Fr Bernard Laloo, Director SSC.

Our forests are blessed with many wild edibles, vegetables which are very rich in nutrients but many of us are not aware of its nutritive value and we never consume and are not aware about it anymore especially with the advancement of modern-day technologies. The new generations also seem to have lost touch with many of such rich resource available in and around them.

Despite the difficulties and hardship due to lockdown, SSC had tried to find out ways and means to be in touch with their FARM project villages and spreads of knowledge on the importance of “Wild Edibles” during the crisis. This initiative has played a pivotal role in educating the people about the usefulness of our forests and landscape from where we can find a wide range of edibles which are healthy and at the same time nutritious.

People of Jaud village under Sohiong Block of East Khasi Hills District started realizing the importance of wild edibles. This realisation came at a time when the government have announced total lockdown of all public places including markets, stores to buy essentials like food and other supplies. During this pandemic, the people have understood that they should find out ways and means to help themselves and the family to survive and eat healthy to strengthen their immune systems to fight any dreaded disease.

There is a wide variety of both edible and non-edible flora in the forests but what separates the people of Jaud is their discretion and wisdom to select the correct food option for them from the available resources.

Jamyrdoh, (Houttuynia Cordata) is commonly grown as a leafy vegetable and is used as a fresh herbal garnish, it is commonly used in salads, salsas, or cooked with other vegetables, and as a garnish over side dishes. The tender roots can also be ground into chutneys along with dry meat or fish, chillies, and tamarind. The vegetable provides a rich amount of calcium, carbohydrates, fibre, essential fats and protein.

Another species Pading Khleh (Musa balbisiana) of banana used as a popular ingredient in many food dishes and rich in Calcium, Carotene, Vitamin C, Iron, Fibre, and protein essential for a healthy body.

Khlieng Syair (Centella asiatica) is used as a culinary vegetable and also has medicinal properties. People of the village consume the leaves and the stem of this herb. Some people eat the leaves on their own, while others prefer them mixing with other bland green leaves. The fresh or dried leaves can be made into a caffeine-free and theobromine-free tea. This herb is high in iron, carbohydrate, fibre and protein.

Villagers started going to the nearby forests to collect wild edibles so that they can support the family with healthy and nutritious food instead of buying chemical infested edibles of low quality that are sold in the market. This helped them to save money as well.

 “I never knew how important the wild edibles are as many of us have forgotten and neglected it but this pandemic makes us realize that we can always turn back to nature and depend on it for food because they are good for health and are easily available in our vicinities for free”, says Mondaris Mawlong, a farmer from the village.

Getting positive feedback from the people proved that the initiative has brought additional education, motivation and encouragement to the people to be aware and conserve the wild edibles. The Caritas India supported FARM Northeast programme has a definite plan to protect the biodiversity of wild edibles under the green belt initiative taken by SSC is a part of this initiative. The green belt initiative will try to trigger the collective actions of the people to conserve the forests where wild edibles are growing.

Wild edibles have been a part and parcel of myriad communities in the North East Region and people of Jaud village are setting examples in sustainable utilisation of such wild edibles to ensure food security during the crisis.