Underutilized crops: Varieties Released in India

Abstract

The dependence of mankind on plant resources is inevitable. Living in close contact with nature, man has learnt to use plants for food, fodder, medicine and other purposes. Since long, the need based selection and domestication of wild plants by mankind has helped in evolution of several useful plant species. Out of a global wealth of about 80,000 edible plants, only a small fraction comprising 3,000 plant species have been used for food and only about 150 species have been commercially cultivated. So much so that 90 % of the world’ food requirement is met merely from 30 species. This includes cereals, legumes, root and other food crops. The continued dependence on a fewer plants carries a great risk of biotic virulence that leads to large scale crop failures. This necessitates the broadening of the genetic base of the individual crop and exploring possibilities of newer plant species for diversification of agriculture. The green revolution during 60’s gave us a great relief on the food production front but continued mono-cropping systems in agriculture and cereal based diets (wheat –rice) led to negative effects on soil as well as human health. The soils have become sick in terms of micronutrients deficiency. The human beings have become prone to several chronic diseases as some of the minor crops which were integral components of diet in the past have been replaced by wheat and rice. These minor or the Underutilized plants, in general, constitute those plant species that occur as life support species in extreme environmental situations and threatened habitats, having genetic tolerance to survive under harsh conditions and possess qualities of nutritional and/or industrial importance for a variety of purposes for the present as well as future needs of mankind. Their cultivation is restricted to remote areas in different agro-ecological regions, mainly by the poor farming communities who have limited access to modern agro-inputs and well organized marketing structure.