All India Coordinated Research Network on Underutilized Crops, Progress Report Rabi 2014-15

Abstract

It is a well known fact that food and nutritional security on sustainable basis are the major challenges of the 21st Century. Crops of minor economic importance 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 towards the well being and livelihoods of the rural households because they have comparative advantages in providing better food, are 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.