All India Coordinated Research Network on Potential Crops, Rabi Report 2013-14

Abstract

It is a well known fact that food and nutritional security on sustainable basis are the major challenges of the 21st Century. Underutilized crops have been used, in reality, by the local populations over generations and are being maintained by the indigenous farming communities in the most vulnerable areas Occurrence of genetic resources of these species is extremely important as they contribute significantly the well being and livelihoods of the rural households because these are having comparative advantages in providing better food, being affordable by the poor and more available both in time and space. They also contribute to the diversity and stability of agro-ecosystems. These species often play a strategic role in fragile ecosystems such as those of arid and semi-arid lands, mountains, tropical regions and coastal regions. Most of these species can be successfully grown in vulnerable, marginal, degraded and wastelands with minimal inputs.