Bastar turns to Chhind trees as Sulfi dries up Raises sustainability concerns

 

 

 

WITH the Sulfi trees, famously called Bastar Beer, drying up due to falling water levels, villagers in Bastar have begun tapping juice from Chhind trees, or Bastar’s Khajur, as an alternative. The practice is helping local vendors continue their trade, but it is putting the region’s beloved Chhind trees under stress. It needs to be mentioned here that the Chhind has been an integral part of life in Bastar for generations. Its sweet fruit is eaten, twigs and leaves are crafted into baskets and mats and villages like Chhindgarh, Chhindgaon and Chhindbahar carry the tree’s legacy in their names. With rising betel nut prices, even gutkha companies have turned to Chhind kernels, adding further pressure.

 

As per experts,while Sulfi produces juice only during a certain season, Chhind can be tapped year-round, making it an easy substitute. Earlier, the practice was limited to Pakhanjore, Kapsi and Baande, where juice was used for jaggery. Today, it has spread across the division, mainly as a local drink. Many farmers with Chhind trees along their field boundaries have started selling them to traders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who dominate the juice business in the region. Local residents say that they value the tree for its cultural and practical importance, but without proper care, they fear that Bastar’s Chhind trees may soon become rare.