Abstract

Forest-dependent indigenous communities have traditionally relied on a variety of locally available food resources to meet their dietary requirements. Food and subsistence needs have long been met by the Soliga tribes of Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills) in the Western Ghats of India through small game hunting, shifting cultivation of millets, legumes and vegetables, gathering of wild berries, tubers, and mushrooms. Traditional food practices have undergone significant change over the years, driven by a variety of factors ranging from conservation policies and state-sponsored food security programmes to the spread of invasive species and consequent decline of wild food resources. We trace the trajectory of changes in Soliga food systems using a combination of methods, including a comprehensive literature review, expert interviews and household surveys conducted in three Soliga settlements in BR Hills. Our study reveals the diminishing role of forests as a source of food and income for the Soliga community, accompanied by a shift from subsistence food crops to cash crops. This transition is often a strategic response to mitigate crop raids by wildlife. The extent to which Soliga livelihoods depend on forest produce collection and farming was found to be influenced by the allocation of tribal land rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. However, the impact varied based on the location of the settlements with respect to the forest type and proximity to markets. While existing literature and expert respondents recognize the changing forest dynamics and the immense ecological knowledge of Soligas, the interconnectedness of wild forest resources, farming, and health and nutrition was hardly appreciated. Simultaneously, improved access to the public food distribution system and evolving cultural preferences have led to increased reliance on external markets for food. We further discuss the repercussions of these transitions on the nutritional security and food sovereignty of the community.