State PCS - Jharkhand (JPSC)

• 30 Jun 2025

Mahua Tree

Why in News? 

The Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia), deeply interwoven with the life of tribal communities in Central India, is gaining attention for its socio-economic and ecological significance amid efforts to document traditional knowledge and conserve native flora. 

• It is commonly found in West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, parts of Northern and Central India, and also in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Key Points

• About Mahua: 
  • Botanical Identity: 
    • The Mahua tree grows as a medium-sized deciduous species, reaching heights of 16–20 metres. 
    • It thrives predominantly in the forested regions of Central India. 
    • The tree blooms between March and April, producing creamy-white flowers that fall before dawn. 
    • Its fruits mature and ripen from June to August, supporting seasonal harvesting. 
  • Cultural and Religious Significance: 
    • Tribal communities revere Mahua as the “Tree of Life”, treating it as sacred. 
    • They use every part of the tree—flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, and even fruit shells—in daily rituals and significant ceremonies, including funeral rites. 
  • Nutritional and Economic Importance: 
    • Tribals consume Mahua flowers raw or dried, valuing them for their high nutritional content. 
    • These flowers are traditionally fermented into a local alcoholic beverage, which provides a crucial source of livelihood. 
  • Ecological Role in Forest Ecosystems: 
    • Mahua’s night-blooming, fragrant flowers attract bats, promoting pollination and seed dispersal. 
    • Sloth bears and other wildlife feed on its flowers, highlighting its role in the forest food chain. 
  • Support for Tribal Livelihoods and Innovation: 
    • The collection, drying, and processing of Mahua flowers form a major seasonal occupation, especially for tribal women. 
      • This activity ensures food security, income generation, and local employment. 
    • Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED),  in collaboration with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FIIT), has developed the Mahua Nutra Beverage to enhance the commercial value of Mahua products. 
      • This initiative aims to boost tribal income through innovation. 
    • This is India’s first scientific innovation involving Mahua, starting in Jharkhand, and reflects TRIFED’s focus on value addition of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through technology transfer and innovation. 

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) 

• TRIFED came into existence in 1987. It is a national-level apex organisation functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 
• The objective of TRIFED is the socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing development of the tribal products such as metal craft, tribal textiles, pottery, tribal paintings and pottery on which the tribals depend heavily for a major portion of their income. 
• TRIFED acts as a facilitator and service provider for tribes to sell their product. 
• The approach by TRIFED aims to empower tribal people with knowledge, tools and a pool of information so that they can undertake their operations in a more systematic and scientific manner. 
• It also involves capacity building of the tribal people through sensitization, formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and imparting training to them for undertaking a particular activity. 
• TRIFED has its Head Office located in New Delhi and has a network of 15 Regional Offices located at various places in the country.