Neglected and Underutilized Crop Genetic Resources for Sustainable Agriculture

The world is presently over-dependent on a few plant species. Diversification of production systems by including a broader range of species can contribute significantly to improved health and nutrition, livelihoods, household food security and ecological sustainability. Hundreds of little known traditional, neglected and underutilized plant species help support the lives of rural people by providing food, fodder, fibre, medicine, fuel wood, and shelter and nutrition benefits especially to women and children. Being low input crops, these are important for agricultural diversification and provide a unique opportunity to combat food and nutritional insecurity within the communities. This review paper highlights the importance of neglected and underutilized species, their role in crop diversification and reducing hunger, research efforts made at the national and intemationallevel, and future thrusts for germplasm collection, characterization, conservation, utilization, capacity building and the policies enabling their enhanced role in agricultural production and well being of the people.