MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Co-existence of potentially sustainable indigenous food systems and poor nutritional status in Ho indigenous community, India: an exploratory study

Summary

This study found that the Ho indigenous people of India have access to hundreds of nutritious traditional foods but still experience widespread malnutrition. Even though their indigenous foods are rich in essential minerals and vitamins, factors like unpredictable rainfall, shift to growing only rice instead of diverse crops, and the availability of cheap processed foods in markets prevent people from using these nutritious foods. The research highlights the need to support traditional food systems and farming practices to improve both health and environmental sustainability in indigenous communities.

Background

The Ho indigenous community of Jharkhand, India has access to diverse indigenous foods (IFs) derived from natural resources with shorter farm-to-plate chains. Despite having access to potentially nutrient-rich IFs, indigenous communities in Jharkhand experience high levels of malnutrition. This paradox necessitates exploration of local food systems and their relationship to nutritional outcomes.

Objective

To explore the food systems of the Ho indigenous community and investigate diet quality and nutritional status of Ho women. Additionally, to identify factors contributing to the nutrition paradox by examining the interaction between various food system components and nutritional outcomes.

Results

The study documented 243 indigenous foods including cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, and flesh foods. Among these, 171 IFs were taxonomically classified and 121 had documented nutritive values showing high nutrient density. However, women demonstrated poor dietary diversity (DDS 2.9±1.4 in winter and 2.9±0.8 in monsoon) and 36% had chronic energy deficiency. Barriers to IF utilization included climate variability, altered farming practices favoring paddy monoculture, and market integration.

Conclusion

The Ho community demonstrates a nutrition paradox with access to abundant nutritious indigenous foods yet consuming monotonous diets with high undernutrition rates. Key interconnected factors including climate change, monocropping, and market-driven food systems negatively impact IF production and consumption. Safeguarding indigenous food systems through policy support, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and integration of traditional ecological knowledge is needed to address food and nutritional security.
  • Published in:Environmental Research Letters,
  • Study Type:Exploratory Cross-sectional Mixed-Methods Study,
  • Source: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad4b44, PMID: 40135111
Scroll to Top