Underutilized cereals, fruits and vegetables are the cheapest source of nutrients available everywhere for fighting against malnutrition.
Benifits:
1.Free of cost
2. Available according to season
3. Rich in nutrients
4. People should know about these underutilized crops
5. Opportunity for people to open small scale industries
and alot more. Please share your views regarding this topic.
Yes ofcourse, as they are nutritionally dense and can prove beneficial in combating malnutrition, among some and children, can be value added and help the rural families in increasing their income. These day we have ample opportunities in horticultural crops specially underutilized ones.
While foods of animal origin are often unaffordable to low-income families, various neglected crops can offer an alternative source of micronutrients, vitamins, as well as health-promoting secondary plant metabolites. Therefore, agricultural and horticultural research should develop strategies not only to produce more food, but also to improve access to more nutritious food. In this context, one promising approach is to promote biodiversity in the dietary pattern of low-income people by getting access to nutritional as well as affordable food and providing recommendations for food selection and preparation. Worldwide, a multitude of various plant species are assigned to be consumed as grains, vegetables, and fruits, but only a limited number of these species are used as commercial cash crops. Consequently, numerous neglected and underutilized species offer the potential to diversify not only the human diet, but also increase food production levels, and, thus, enable more sustainable and resilient agro- and horti-food systems. To exploit the potential of neglected plant (NP) species, coordinated approaches on the local, regional, and international level have to be integrated that consequently demand the involvement of numerous multi-stakeholders. Thus, the objective of the present review is to evaluate whether NP species are important as “Future Food” for improving the nutritional status of humans as well as increasing resilience of agro- and horti-food systems.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07352689.2016.1201399
Worldwide, a multitude of various plant species are assigned to be consumed as grains, vegetables, and fruits, but only a limited number are used as commercial cash crops. Consequently, numerous neglected and underutilized species offer the potential to diversify not only the human diet, but also increase food production levels, and, thus, enable more sustainable and resilient agro- and horti-food systems. Introducing these orphan species would increase the opportunity to produce nutrient-rich food as well as simultaneously enhancing the environmental capacity for future generations to supply themselves. Most of these neglected plants (NPs) have a comparative advantage in marginal lands, where they have been naturally selected to withstand stress conditions and can therefore contribute to low-input sustainable production systems. Considering the current trends in weather alterations due to climate change and the vulnerability of agriculture and horticulture to these alterations, diversity in genetic resources will promote resilience of the agricultural and horticultural systems, as well as buffer social and economic shocks that might arise due to concentrating on fewer crops.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07352689.2016.1201399
Yes that will boost the local economy as well as promote sustainable local development. Plus the advantage of fresh seasonal produce itself is a blessings.
The consumption of underutilized fruit crops can provide nutrition to the poor and needy tribals by meeting the nutrient requirements of vulnerable groups. As underutilized fruits, nuts, and vegetables are a rich of source of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, energy, vitamins—A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, folic acid, and minerals—Ca, P, Fe, and dietary fiber. Thus, they have the nutritional capacity to prevent and cure various diseases like kwashiorkor, marasmus, night blindness, anemia, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and hidden hunger. It is also established fact that seasonal, locally available, and cheap fruits and vegetables can also keep the population healthy and nutritionally secure rather than costly off-season ones. Also, the underutilized crops have the potential to give economic security to tribals by giving employment and by fetching good returns from their sale in raw form as well as value-added products. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2011.616638?src=recsys&journalCode=bfsn20
Nutritious vegetables like artichokes (the most nutritious?)which are hard to find in the market should be promoted.
Yes, the consumption of Underutilized fruits and vegetables should be promoted because fruits and vegetables are the excellent source of vitamin and minerals and they also provide antioxidants which are helpful to combat the free radicals causes different kinds of degenrative diseases. Fruits are perishable in nature, So we can process underutilized fruits which are easily available and can develop different types of processed food products and make available these fruit based products to the consumers during the off season.
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