Tag: Underutilized crops

Despite being a staple in traditional medicine for centuries, Basella alba remains an underutilized green leafy vegetable with vast nutritional potential. This vining plant, often called Malabar spinach, is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds vital for overall health and wellness.

Globally, more than 75% of India's annual jackfruit yield goes to waste due to its massive size and underutilization in traditional markets. This startling statistic highlights a significant paradox: an abundant, resilient, and highly nutritious fruit is being overlooked in regions where food security is a persistent challenge.

Monkey kola is a common English name that actually refers to several species of the Cola genus, specifically the edible wild relatives of the traditional kola nut, native to West and Central Africa. This versatile fruit is known for its sweet pulp and nutritional benefits, with different varieties distinguished by their colorful inner arils.