Vol. 11, Special Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
S Brahma, V Upadhaya, RK Nath, P Sarma and R Sarma

Abstract:
Tapioca or Cassava (Manihot esculanta Crantz) has multifaceted role in fulfilling the needs of the tribal people in rural areas contributing to food security, poverty eradication and livelihood improvement. Cassava is a native vegetable of South America grows very well in tropical and sub-tropical areas, where potatoes don’t and acts as a barrier against starvation. It has excellent drought tolerance and can be planted with a low input requirement in almost all types of soil, where other crops cannot be cultivated economically. Among the tropical root, and tuber crops it occupies first position globally in terms of the area and production. It is an important tuber crop intimately associated with the livelihood of the Bodo tribes of Kokrajhar district of Assam, North East India. Tapioca is preferred to be eaten as a snack after boiling with addition of salt. Apart from use as snack different types of value added products like tapioca cakes, biscuits, chips, barfi, sagu, starch etc. can be prepared. Tapioca flour has the largest amount of pure starch, more than any other crop and has great value in the textile industries, in pharmaceutical industries, as adhesives etc. The cassava flour finds use in making vermillion and natural holi colours. Above all, tapioca leaves are used as secondary food source for the Eri culture industry closely associated with the culture and tradition of the Bodo tribes and occupies a prominent place in the Socio-economic development and livelihood improvement of the people particularly Bodo women folk of BTR of Kokrajhar district of Assam, India.