Some Prominent NTFPs of Jharkhand, India for Socio-Economic Development: An Extensive Review

Non-timber forest products i.e. NTFPs are eiucidated as items apart from timber that are produced from the host plant species yielding products, such as those connected to insects, animais, or their parts. Jharkhand, which translates to "land of the forest," is a state abundant in biodiversity. The majority of people who live in and around woods and forestry, especially those who depend on NTFP in the form of self-employment, direct employment and secondary employment, significantly plays a role In socio-economic development of their entire lives and means of subsistence. Forest-dependent livelihoods mostly involve the year-round collecting, processing, and use of various NTFPs, as well as few seasonal maintenance farming in the forest edge areas. In the past three decades, the Importance of NTFPs especially as food and medicine has been an Issue of growing awareness due to Its contribution to the economic backbone of many developing countries. With the growing pressure of population and market, NTFPs are on a decline due to slow agricultural development and economic growth which is bypassing the rural areas. Food scarcity is another major problem faced by many tribal families In the forest. Therefore, maintaining the safety-net function of the availability of forest foods to tribal people as a coping mechanism is crucial. This can be United to socioeconomic development and addressing Issues related to food insecurity. The authors have made an attempt to examine, compile, and document a number of significant NTFPs in the state of Jharkhand that have an impact on the life of the tribal groups either directly or indirectly.