Chyura, Livelihood, Butter, Uttrakhand.

Non timber forest products play a very important role among the local people of Uttrakhand and provide a source of income for living. In Uttrakhand Himalaya most of the NTFPs are essential part of livelihood activities for rural population (Maikhuri et al., 2004). The harvesting and collection of NTFPs is a major economic activity and about 500 million people living near forest fringe area are dependent upon for meeting their needs (Sundriyal and Sundriyal 2003). Trees are valued for the many tangible and intangible benefits they provide in rural, as well as in urban landscapes throughout the world. Some tree species have special importance for Indigenous peoples, as they are associated with cultural and spiritual practices (Benner et al., 2021).

Rapid socio-economic deviations over the past few decades have caused a marked deterioration in the share of Indigenous peoples engaging in social practices and knowledge transmission, hence threatening biodiversity conservation. A number of multipurpose plants are found in Uttarakhand, which are lesser known and underutilized. Diploknema butyracea locally known as Chyura is one of such underutilized multipurpose tree species that distributed in the kumaun region of the state (Bahar, 2011).

Worldwide, the genus Diploknema Pierre of Sapotaceae is represented by eleven taxa, with eight species and three synonyms. Out of these only three species are found in India, viz., Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam, Diploknema butyracea var. andamanensis P. Royen, and Diploknema butyraceoides (M.B. Scott) H.J. Lam. Of these, Diploknema butyracea, called as 'Indian Butter Tree' by William Roxburgh in 1805, is indigenous to the sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Bhutan, China and Nepal (Majumder et al., 2012). It distributed generally in the tracts on narrow valleys, steep slopes and cliffs at an altitude ranging from 300 to 1500 meters (Rijal, 2011). In India, it occurs in subtropical forests of Himalaya across Kumaon Hills, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam (Chowdhury et al., 2020). It is a medium sized, hardy plant species with economic age of 80-100 years (Uprety and Asselin 2023). Tree attains a height of 15 m and girth 1.8 m, fruits are berries, 1-3 seeded and contain about 2.0 cm long almond shaped kernel.  The population of this trees in Uttarakhand is mainly restricted in Pithoragarh district particularly the areas neighboring Nepal and adjoining areas of Almora, Bageshwar and Champawat (Joshi et al., 2018; Tamta and Tewari 2018).

Chyura seed is an important source of fattyoil. The oil is known as phulwara which is used as a substitute for ghee and butter in cooking and burning diyas. Hence, it is famous as Indian butter tree (Tag and Tsering 2012). The bark having tannin properties is used as dyeing. The green leaf is used as a good fodder, branches for fuel wood and trunk for timber. The nectar from the flowers is collected through honeybees or directly to produce jiggery which is highly valued in Uttarakhand (Bahar, 2011). The fleshy fruits are harvested for edible purpose (Aryal et al., 2009). It is also used in preparation of medicines and cosmetic creams. The defatted cake can be used as fertilizer as it has pesticide properties (Chikanbanjar et al., 2021).

The purpose of the present study was to assess the distribution and indigenous use of the Chyura (Diploknema butyracea Roxb) by local peoples in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand where it occurs generally in the warm valleys and river/stream sides. In this view, this study was conducted to know the multipurpose benefits of Chyura plants.

Besides being such an important tree, it is facing a great habitat loss in the study area due to many factors including establishment period, eroding traditional knowledge, heavy pruning for fodder purpose, we attempt to document the uses of this tree as done by the villagers of the study area along with the identification of various reasons for its habitat loss in the study area.

The current study has been carried out in different regions of Kumaon, Uttarakhand during different months of 2021-2023. Survey was made through available literature, Field visit, Personal interviews/ telephonic interview for collection of population of Chyura. In this study 9 population sites of Chyura tree in kumaon region (Okalkanda, Jamradi, Paitna, Mankot, Matoil, Bhateri, Matila, Kanth and Nawali) has been identified. Basically Chyura tree is located in valley area and catchment area of river. The details of the selected areas are as follows:

Fig. 1. Distribution of Diploknema butyreacea Tree in Uttrakhand.

Fig. 2. Diploknema butyreacea. 

STUDY AREA

Methods of data collection and analysis. Population data of Diploknema butyreacea were collected from different sites of kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Field visits were carried out in different phases from July 2021 to September 2023. Population survey work conducted by using different methods like, personal interviews of local villagers, site visit, and community level interview. Semi questionnaires were prepared for collecting data on population states of Diploknema butyreacea by household surveys with the help of local assistants. We have selected groups of 15 people in each site for community level interview. Market survey also conducted in the local areas nearby to the patches of the butter tree in order to know about the value, demand and supply of Chyura ghee in local communities. 

The tree is usually found scattered in wastelands, pastures and cultivated fields near the villages. The tree also occurs separately or in small groups as a natural element of broadleaved forests. The Chyura tree is used in several ways by the local people in the study area. This is a tree of whose nearly all the parts are useful (Chhetry et al., 2022). The main product of this tree is extracted from the seeds which is known as Chyura ghee or butter. It produces oil seeds, rich in oil contents which at lower temperature transforms into fat and looks like butter or ghee which has a great nutritional and medicinal value (Pandey et al., 2021). Some of the main uses of the tree as done by the study community are as follows:

Fig.  6. Process of Oil extraction from Chyura seeds.

One more method for preparation of butter is chemically in the laboratory. For this, the seeds are first dried for 2-3 days and their seed coat is removed. The kernel is then powdered; this powder is then used for preparing the butter by hot extraction method using petroleum ether as solvent. The percentage oil yield obtained using this method is around 50-60 %. Usually, 100 gram of chyura powder produces 30mL of butter.

Products from Chyura Oil. The chyura seed is used for making various products like soap which is prepared through saponification reaction using lye due to its high saponin content, candles are made by mixing chyuri butter and beewax in a proportion and some fragrance. Mosquito repellant is prepared by the residue obtained after extracting butter and other additives like cow dung, coconut husk, saw dust, charcoal, camphor, lemongrass leaves etc  and the remaining part left after butter extraction  can be used directly as a fertilizer due to its pesticidal properties. Cosmetic items like lipbalm, foot crack cream are also prepared from butter.

Fig. 7. Soap prepared from Chyura oil.

Fig. 8. Candles prepared from Chyura oil.

Household Uses. The fruits and seeds are edible part of the plant. The fruits are sweet in taste and are used for making sugar candies, jam and squash. The butter is extracted from the seeds, locally known as “Makkhan” which can be further processed to make ghee which is used for edible purpose and for lightning lamps (diya). The leaves can be used for making disposable plates. The wood of the tree is used in making furniture. The local households are benefitted by beekeeping. The nectar is collected by honey bees to produce honey (Joshi and Pechhacker 2002).

Agricultural and other uses. The residue left after butter extraction can be used directly as a fertilizer due to its pesticidal, homicidal, nematicidal, molluscicidal and rodenticidal properties (Tewari et al., 2015). The tree bark is used as fish poison due to its tannin content. The large spread roots of the tree prevent soil erosion and helps in water and soil conservation. The villagers collect the leaves from chyura tree and use as green fodder, which has resulted in high exploitation of the trees, however nowadays awareness has increased for its conservation and restoration.

The study indicates that the shift from traditional practices to modern is very slow and even though after awareness and introduction of modern appropriate technologies the large proportion of the community is still conserving the traditional knowledge and practices. The traditional uses of chyura are continued with diversification to an extent for better income and improvised livelihoods. The awareness level of communities has increased and approach to conserve chyura is well taken.

L.R. Lakshmikanta Panda, Neelu Singh, Arun Uniyal, Jyoti Kukreti and Ritu  (2024). Diploknema butyreacea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam (Chyura): A Viable Livelihood Option for Hill Communities of Uttarakhand. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(2): 144-148.