<p>Chhattisgarh minister T S Singhdeo on Wednesday pitched for the use of Mahua flowers, used by tribals to brew liquors, to manufacture hand sanitisers which has emerged as a key weapon to combat COVID-19.</p>.<p>The musky-scented Mahua flowers are in full bloom across the tribal-state and are being collected and sold as natural forest produce.</p>.<p>“The Mahua spirit also has high liquor content and can be an alternative for alcohol used in the manufacture of hand sanitisers,” Singhdeo said during a press conference through video link.</p>.<p>He said the flowers were in bloom and several tribes in Chhattisgarh and adjoining states trade the forest produce that is used as a staple food by certain communities and also brewed to produce liquor.</p>.<p>Sampling of the fresh Mahua flowers of the season is celebrated by tribal communities that observe the Chaitra Mahaparv in the first month of the lunar calendar.</p>.<p>Trading of Mahua flowers is a significant component of the tribal economy, but it is now hit hard due to the lockdown to arrest the spread of COVID-19.</p>.<p>Besides liquor, Mahua flowers are also used by tribals to prepare jams, cakes, and other food items that are sold as minor forest produce.</p>
<p>Chhattisgarh minister T S Singhdeo on Wednesday pitched for the use of Mahua flowers, used by tribals to brew liquors, to manufacture hand sanitisers which has emerged as a key weapon to combat COVID-19.</p>.<p>The musky-scented Mahua flowers are in full bloom across the tribal-state and are being collected and sold as natural forest produce.</p>.<p>“The Mahua spirit also has high liquor content and can be an alternative for alcohol used in the manufacture of hand sanitisers,” Singhdeo said during a press conference through video link.</p>.<p>He said the flowers were in bloom and several tribes in Chhattisgarh and adjoining states trade the forest produce that is used as a staple food by certain communities and also brewed to produce liquor.</p>.<p>Sampling of the fresh Mahua flowers of the season is celebrated by tribal communities that observe the Chaitra Mahaparv in the first month of the lunar calendar.</p>.<p>Trading of Mahua flowers is a significant component of the tribal economy, but it is now hit hard due to the lockdown to arrest the spread of COVID-19.</p>.<p>Besides liquor, Mahua flowers are also used by tribals to prepare jams, cakes, and other food items that are sold as minor forest produce.</p>
