Journal of Nutraceuticals and Food Science

Underutilized Leafy Vegetables: A Boon for Malnutrition and Farmer Crisis

The promotion over the years of only a small number of crops had systematically replaced many indigenous traditional plants consumed by local subsistence farmers, from over 7,000 species of edible plants only about 30 crops are used in households around the world. Abandoning them has also lead to the loss of some genetic pool. Utilization of underutilized vegetables and fruits is moreover the need of the hour to meet the hunger of the growing world population. They are also cost-efficient, making it available to all income groups. Especially in a country like India, with the world's largest population where half of the country falls below the poverty line. These crops are high in nutrition like protein, Vitamin C, iron , etc. benefiting the vegans. Other properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, etc. pull off the crops in great medicinal purposes. If we promote and consume these vegetables by bringing upon the light of awareness, using such vegetables will be beneficial to all, with nutrition, health, and variety in the plate of satiety

Neda Hashimi