More than a Country Liquor: Madhuca Longifolia as a Facilitator of SDGs

Madhuca longifolia is considered ‘the tree of life’ owing to its multifaceted historical, cultural and economic significance. For the Adivasi Bhils of Gujarat, it is significant in terms of the usage of flowers, seeds and oil in ayurveda, selling of flowers to aid in domestic economy, cooking oil and ritual oil extraction from the seeds, and brewing liquor from the dried flowers. In addition, the Adivasi Bhils use its timber in house construction and as a source of shade for agricultural crops, fodder, fuel and wood. This article examines these significant advantages of the plant within the frame of the Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study also alludes to recognise the noteworthy awareness as the tree can synchronously exist within the existing agricultural pattern, concurrently assessing its scope to facilitate multiple SDGs.