ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS – A CASE STUDY OF 'KOKUM' IN INDIA

Garcinia indica, commonly known as 'kokum', is an underutilized fruit tree, native of the Western Ghats in India and Malaysia. In India it mainly grows in the western parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Goa. The fruit is used as a medicinal plant against obesity; the rind as souring and food colouring agent and fat of the seed is extracted for cosmetic and confectionery preparations. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka and Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra. It describes the production and marketing of 'kokum' by growers and collectors. In Uttara Kannada marketing of 'kokum' is severely constrained, whereas in Sindhudurg it is better organized and geared towards processed products. Interventions that could improve 'kokum' utilization in Karnataka include the organization of growers and collectors, increasing public awareness on the medicinal properties of ‘kokum’ and the introduction of value adding technology, which could also benefit growers in Maharashtra by reducing labour-intensity of processing.