Livelihood Dependency of Garasia tribes utilizing Non Timber Forest Products in Abu Road area of Sirohi district in Rajasthan, India.

Abu road block of Sirohi district in Rajasthan, India lies in 24.4641° N, 72.7718° E. A study was undertaken in tribal belt of Sirohi district in Rajasthan (India) to assess the livelihood dependency of Garasia tribes living in 24 villages in Abu road block. The area has also been notified as Scheduled tribe vide Ministry of tribal affairs , Govt. of India. Findings of reconnaissance survey reveals that livelihood systems in the study area are complex, primarily dependent on primitive mode of agriculture, followed by daily labour and NTFP (Non Timber Forest Products) collection and selling as their source of livelihood. On the basis of maximum collection qualitatively (through pre-tested and structured questionnaire) identified key NTFPs are Jatropha curcas (seeds) and Diospyros melanoxylon (fruits) collected in 83% villages, Momordica dioica ( fruits) and Phoenix (fruits) collected in 67 % and 50% villages respectively. The quantified key NTFPs with their (mean± S.D.) collection /annum in kg are: Tamarindus indica : fruits (49.25±46.04) , Pithocellibium dulce : fruits (36.12±18.36) Rs.10-15/kg, Momordica dioica:fruits (29.31± 15.68), Annona squamosa: fruits (14.20±12.77), Diospyros melanoxylon : fruits (14.08±11.81), Syzygium cummuni : fruits (13.48±11.32), Pongamia pinnata:seeds (13.18±11.53), Phoenix sp. : fruits : (12 .37±11.38) and Jatropha curcus : seeds (10.14 ± 8.84). The findings of the present studies reveals that although there is high resource availability in the study area but due lack of awareness, scientific knowledge about various post harvest and value addition methods with inadequate marketing channels and facilities, the income from the key NTFPs are very low. NTFP collection in the area is a year round activity but tribal depends on it to sustain their livelihood needs instead of adopting it as an income generating activity.