Researchers have discovered that the indigenous Apatani tribes in Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley, through their consumption of Kiwi fruits’ bug-Chafer beetles are effectively managing the fruit crop in an environmentally sustainable manner, without the need for harmful insecticides and pesticides.
The study, published in the journal Current Science, revealed that not only has the usage of toxic insecticides been eliminated, but the yield of kiwi crops has actually increased in areas where entomophagy (insect eating habit) is practiced.
Impressed by these findings, the researchers emphasized the importance of encouraging such entomophagy practices to be adopted in other regions as well, as a means of managing pest species in an environmentally friendly manner.
The study, titled “Traditional knowledge of pest management and entomophagy: perspective on kiwi crop management by the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, North East India,” involved interviews with community members and kiwi farmers from seven villages each in the Ziro Valley and Yachuli region, as well as six villages in the Bomdila region-important kiwi-producing areas. Field visits were conducted, and all activities related to insect harvesting were documented through photographs.
Jharna Chakravorty, from the Department of Zoology at Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Itanagar, explained, “We discovered that the Apatani tribe favours three varieties of edible chafer beetles, locally known as Jojer, Dikang-Diilang, and Sanko-Tapu. These beetles, belonging to the Anomala, Phyllophaga, and Lepidiota species respectively, emerge from the soil and swarm kiwi plantations and wild chestnut trees, causing extensive defoliation.”
The villagers collect these insects during their peak infestation season and consume them as a delicacy. The beetles are typically prepared by removing their wings and then roasting, smoking, or boiling them. Chakravorty further noted, “In the history of the Apatani tribe, it has also been reported that these beetles were once used in the barter system to exchange other goods and services, both within and between tribes.”
In addition, organic kiwi cultivation has witnessed significant growth in the region in recent years, with no pesticides being used in these horticultural fields.
The rise in organic kiwi fruit production has greatly benefited Arunachal Pradesh, particularly the Ziro Valley, where numerous micro, small, and medium enterprises specializing in kiwi-based products have been established.
The researchers also observed that as kiwi cultivation expanded, the edible polyphagous beetles shifted their preference from chestnut trees to kiwi plants in the Ziro Valley agroecosystem. They further noted that regions practicing entomophagy of these edible insect pests experienced a decrease in the emergence of pests in the subsequent generation compared to non-practice regions.
Contrasting patterns were observed in kiwi plantations within the Ziro Valley. “The chafer beetle population remained stable in the next generation, possibly due to less intense insect collection in the kiwi plantations located far from the settlement areas,” added Nending Muni, also from the Department of Zoology at Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Itanagar.