Abstract

Arunachal Pradesh boasts of having about 5000 species of plants indigenous to it. There are more than 500 species of plants regarded edible, many of which constitute rich traditional vegetables eaten by various tribes of the state. Due to diverse ecological conditions, various types of vegetable herbs are available in different parts of the state. However, a very few literature is available on the status and potential of indigenous vegetables in Arunachal Pradesh particularly in Papumpare district. Therefore, understanding the research need in this sector, a scientific study was conducted in the year 2016–17 by the State Horticulture Research & Development Institute (SHRDI), Itanagar in the entire Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh. As per the survey conducted, it was found that there was substantial consumption of local vegetables like Zanthoxyllum oxyphyllum, Piper pedicellatum, Clerodendrom colebrookianum, Pouzolzia hirta, Phoebe cooperians, etc. in different pockets of Papumpare district. Also, during the investigation, 19 species of vegetables were recorded from different local markets across the district. Fourteen of which were of leafy vegetables, two of fruit, one of tender pseudo stem, one of tuber and one of floral bud. The consumption ranged from 5000 to 10000 kg per month. It was also revealed that Piper sylvaticum was most available vegetable and consumption of Piper pedicellatum was highest followed by Colocasia esculenta (Rhizome).