Traditions for Future Cross-National Food Security-Food and Foraging Practices among Different Native Communities in the Western Himalayas

Abstract

Traditional diets exist in all cultures and geographic regions, and they often represent healthy eating options. Traditional culinary preparations have, however, often undergone profound change, even in the isolated Himalayan region. Therefore, we adapted methods to identify traditional plant foraging activities to better understand their significance in food system sustainability, as well as to promote innovative local gastronomies. Information on wild food and foraging practices was gathered from varied ethnic groups such as Kashmiri, Gujjars, Pahari, Dogra, Bakarwal, Balti, Beda and Brokpa through interviews (n = 716) and group discussions (n = 67) in four bio-geographic regions of the Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas (J&KH). The data were subjected to ordination techniques (Principal Component Analysis) via R software Ver. 4.0.0. We documented 209 food species, of which 73% were plants and 27% animals, used by the inhabitants of four bio-geographic regions of J&KH. The highest number of food plant species was recorded in Indian Kashmir, followed by Jammu, Azad Kashmir and Ladakh (81, 65, 60 and 27 species, respectively), and the maximum number of animal species was reported in Indian Kashmir, followed by Azad Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu (33, 21, 19 and 17 species, respectively). The Azad Kashmir and Indian Kashmir regions showed greater similarity, whereas the least overlap was observed between Kashmir and Ladakh. The PCA showed considerable variation between different regions, and specific groups of species were more related to one specific region than others. The reported uses of Abies pindrow, Acacia modesta, Bergenia ciliata, Bergenia stracheyi and Juglans regia among plants, and Jynx torquilla, Streptopelia orientalis and Tadorna ferruginea among animals, are novel for the gastronomy of this part of the Himalayan region. We also recorded for the first time from this region seven unique food preparations of wild animals. This study documented extensive traditional knowledge on the usage of wild species, and is the first scientific description of wild food species and their vernacular names in the Western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir. Our findings can contribute significantly to combating food insecurity by revitalizing and reconsidering the rich bio-cultural food heritage around which local traditional communities have developed their food systems.

Keywords: Himalayas; climate change; food security; livelihood; local cuisine.

Figure 1

Political map of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with neighboring countries, and points showing the surveyed villages in the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Azad Kashmir region is administrated by Pakistan authorities whereas the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions are administrated by Indian authorities. The surrounding countries of the region are represented by different colors, with purple representing China and green representing Pakistan while the rest of India is shown in cream.

Figure 2

Representative survey sites in different bio-geographical regions for data collection. The photographs were taken by Shiekh Marifatul Haq and Musheer ul Hassan in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, whereas in Azad Kashmir, the photographs were taken by Hammad Ahmad Jan.

Figure 3

Representative species used as wild food (plants). The photographs were taken by Shiekh Marifatul Haq and Musheer ul Hassan.

Figure 4

Representative ethno-wild food (animals) used by indigenous people. The photographs were taken by Shiekh Marifatul Haq and Musheer ul Hassan.

Figure 5

Consumption percentage of food preparation (a) plants (b) animals, birds and fish in the erstwhile state of J&K.

Figure 6

Comparative percentage of different plant parts used in (a) Kashmir (b) Jammu (c) Azad Kashmir (d) Ladakh region.

Figure 7

Venn diagram (a) representing unique and common plant species (b) representing unique and common animal species among different regions.

Figure 8

PCA diagram (a) representing clustering of plant species (b)representing clustering of animal species among different regions. The complete name of species as per the serial numbering in Table S1.

Figure 9

Dendrogram representing clustering of investigated ethnic groups among different regions.