PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF WILD DATE PALM SAP AND COUNTRY LIQUOR IN 2 TRIBAL VILLAGE ECOSYSTEMS OF EASTERN GHATS OF ORISSA, INDIA

Wild date palm sap and traditional liquor production and consumption i n Bidyadharpur and Arakhapada tribal village ecosystems on Eastern Gha ts of Orissa, India were intensively studied. Daily palm sap productiv ity was 656 and 92 ml tree(-1) while the total annual production was 2 2 902 and 106 l in Arakhapada and Bidyadharpur, respectively. Country liquor was mainly prepared from molasses and mohua flowers. Traditiona l liquor production technology is described. In Arakhapada annual mola sses liquor production was 14 706 l while mohua liquor production was 160 l. In Bidyadharpur no liquor production was observed. Consumption of wild date palm sap and country liquor was more in Arakhapada than t hat of Bidyadharpur. Consumption of liquor by tribal women is a peculi ar feature. Input-output analysis of molasses liquor preparation revea led no monetary benefit. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.