1Department of Horticulture, Sikkim University, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim-737 102, India
2Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bangal-736165, India
3Department of Agricultural Extension, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bangal-736165, India
4Department of Horticulture, North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus, Tura, Meghalaya-794 002, India
*E mail: gopalshukla12@gmail.com
Online published on 27 October, 2015.
Consensus and perception of local ethnic inhabitants from different parts of Sikkim state of India regarding the role of wild edible fruits in their daily life style was studied. Perception level was analyzed on the basis of family dependency, income generating ability, medicinal values and intercropping with agricultural crops. Results revealed that 61.6% of the respondents were with a medium perception level followed by high perception level (31.6%) about the values and usage of indigenous minor or wild edible fruit trees. Distribution of data was highly consistent (15.20%) with mean and SD value of 10.92 and 1.66, respectively. Thus, the variables gender, age and occupation of respondents were found to be critical for developing their perception level on values and usage of these fruit trees. The estimated R2 value of 0.099 indicated that predictor variables altogether had explained 9.9% variations embedded with predicted variable i.e. local people's perception on values and usage of fruit trees
Ethnic group, perception, edible fruit, gender, occupation, Sikkim, Himalaya
