Traditional methods of mollusc shell collection for lime preparation in East coast of India

Abstract

For lime preparation, mollusc shells are traditionally collected from the sea and estuaries. The main objective of the study was to analyse technically how mollusc shells are collected from the coastal areas of Ganjam district, Orissa. In the study, five sites of Ganjam coast, viz. Badapur, Sonapur, Gopalpur, Haripur and Palur, from where mollusc shell collection was carried out by the local Nolia or Bauri community were studied. Four types of methods, viz. hoeing, netting, sweeping and digging, were used to collect the shell from the estuary, sea, creek and Chilika lagoon, respectively. Four main types of shell that were used in the industries for lime preparation, viz. Anadara granosa (Khola), Meritrix meritrix (Gondhi), Meritrix casta. (Pati) and Ceritidea cingulata (Genda) were collected from different sites. During the study year, collection of shells from Badapur, Sonapur, Gopalpur, Haripur and Palur were 366.7, 194.1, 1435.8, 158.9 and 1676.4 Mega gm (Mg) respectively. Total energy expenditure through human labour and material varied from 18.96 to 67.8 GJ in five sites, out of which more than 80% was contributed by human energy.