Agrotechnology

Traditional vegetables in sustaining food, nutrition and livelihood security in fragile tropical island ecosystem, India

International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

September 14-15, 2012 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Shrawan Singh and D. R. Singh

AcceptedAbstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The food based approaches against micronutrient or vitamin associated deficiencies for marginal communities in challenges regions are confronted with availability and affordability of appropriate dietary options. Depletion of biodiversity and tradi - tional food resources, climate change, ecosystem degradation and changing food habits further increased vulnerability of such communities and their traditional food resources. Though, traditional foods played key role in their health and nutrition but overemphasis on commercial foods marginalized these micronutrients and vitamin rich resources. This paper highlighted the research findings from ongoing research programme on traditional vegetables in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Around 57 herbs were identified with culinary uses in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), belonging to Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Moaraceae, Amaranthaceae and Caesalpinacease. Good flavoured, tasty and crispy were more preferred for culinary items while bitter and odd flavoured were better for health. Most of the vegetables are semi-domesticated and forest/wild habitat is still major sup - plier for such dietary sources for marginal communities. The study also identified herbs rich in Ca, Fe, polyphenol, carotenoids, vitamin C and chlorophyll and low in anti-nutrients. The pre-cooking processing of twenty five traditional vegetables showed significant decrease in quantity of anti-nutritional compounds. Further, the selection and breeding efforts lead to develop CARI Broad Dhaniya a improved and phytochemical rich variety of Eryngium foetidum L. and identification of superior genotypes of Basella, Amaranthus, Alternanthera, Centella and Hibiscus. The identified genotypes and nutrient rich sources and generated information for bioprospecting of these neglected resources will be useful for devising nutritious diets with local foods for bet - ter nutrition in challenges tropical islands.

Biography :

Shrawan Singh, is working as Scientist, Division of Horticulture & Forestry, Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair. His major research area is exploration of traditional vegetables of Island region for food, nutrition and livelihood of local people. His efforts lead to develop one variety and identify four superior genotypes in different traditional vegetables. With his efforts on this theme, the ICAR, New Delhi awarded him the prestigious Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award (2011).