Value addition to underutilized fruits and entrepreneurship prospects for rural women

India enjoys a prominent position on the pomological map of the world. However several fruits like Aonla, Custard Apple, Bael, Wood Apple, Jamun and Tamarind etc. have limited market value due to acidic and perishable nature and astringent taste. These fruits are generally categorized as underutilized fruits, however due to nutritive, therapeutic and medicinal values, these fruits hold potential for value addition through processing. These fruits are usually used to prepare several value added products for domestic use and with limited efforts, these product can be promoted for commercial production and marketing. Women being traditionally aware about value addition processes, could prepare Squash, Jelly, Jam, Syrup, Pickle, Chutney, Preserved Pulp, Blended Beverage, Churan Powder, Barfi, Laddoo, Sugar Syrup etc. with limited efforts and small investments. In this paper we review literature on production, uses and value addition techniques etc., developed by various research organizations and scientists. Thus, promoting value addition of underutilized fruits may not only bring a change in financial status of scores of farm women but can improve profit margins, reduce post-harvest loss, increase export and contribute to economic growth of country.