Forgotten Crops: Keys to India's Food and Climate Future

Underutilised or orphan crops refer to plant species that were historically part of human diets but are now marginalised in mainstream agriculture and markets. While nearly 7,000 plant species have been used as food over time, modern food systems rely heavily on a narrow base of crops. As highlighted in the article, just three grains—rice, wheat, and maize—contribute over 60% of global caloric intake. Orphan crops such as millets, pseudo-cereals, indigenous fruits, and traditional vegetables have gradually fallen out of cultivation due to changing dietary preferences, industrial farming systems, and policy neglect.

These crops are significant because they often possess unique nutritional profiles, including high levels of micronutrients, dietary fibre, antioxidants, and therapeutic compounds. For instance, fruits like aonla and jamun are rich in vitamin C and anti-diabetic properties, while vegetables like moringa and amaranth offer superior protein and mineral content compared to many commercial alternatives. Their decline has contributed to a shrinking food basket, aggravating problems of hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies.

From a systemic perspective, orphan crops also play a crucial role in agro-biodiversity conservation. Their genetic diversity enhances resilience against climate change, pests, and diseases. Many of these crops are hardy, drought-tolerant, and suitable for marginal lands, making them particularly relevant for small and resource-poor farmers. Thus, underutilised crops are not merely relics of the past but represent a strategic asset for achieving nutritional security, ecological sustainability, and inclusive rural livelihoods.

The increasing dependence on a narrow range of staple crops is a major concern because it creates both nutritional and systemic vulnerabilities. Nutritionally, staples like rice and wheat are primarily sources of carbohydrates and lack adequate amounts of essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamins. Over-reliance on these crops has contributed to the persistence of malnutrition, anaemia, and lifestyle-related diseases, even in countries that are food surplus in terms of calories, such as India.

From a food security perspective, monocropping increases exposure to climate shocks, pest outbreaks, and market volatility. A disruption affecting a dominant crop can have cascading impacts on availability, prices, and farmer incomes. In contrast, diversified food systems that include underutilised fruits and vegetables enhance resilience by spreading risk. Crops like bael, ber, and cluster bean are well adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions, making them valuable buffers against climate uncertainty.

Furthermore, the decline of traditional crops has socio-economic consequences. As the article notes, niche markets for these foods have disappeared, leading to livelihood losses for traditional cultivators. This has weakened local food cultures and indigenous knowledge systems. Therefore, excessive dependence on a few crops undermines not only nutritional diversity but also economic inclusiveness and cultural sustainability, necessitating policy attention towards diversified and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

Policy interventions can play a transformative role in reviving underutilised fruits and vegetables by addressing gaps across the production–processing–marketing continuum. First, there is a need for targeted research and development. As the article points out, policymakers and researchers have largely focused on commercially important crops. Dedicated breeding programmes, yield improvement initiatives, and post-harvest research for crops like phalsa, wood apple, and jute mallow can enhance their commercial viability.

Second, these crops must be integrated into nutrition and welfare schemes. Including underutilised vegetables such as moringa and amaranth in schemes like the Mid-Day Meal and POSHAN Abhiyaan can simultaneously address malnutrition and create assured demand for farmers. Public procurement, minimum support mechanisms, and inclusion in farmer producer organisations (FPOs) can further strengthen market access.

Third, awareness generation is crucial. Urban consumers often perceive these foods as inferior or outdated. Policy-led campaigns, similar to the International Year of Millets, can reposition these crops as ‘smart foods’ or ‘future superfoods’. The NAAS policy paper (2025) provides a strong evidence base for such initiatives. A coordinated approach combining research, market development, and behavioural change can ensure that underutilised fruits and vegetables regain their rightful place in India’s food system.

Modern agriculture has significantly contributed to the decline of traditional food crops through its emphasis on uniformity, high yields, and market scalability. The Green Revolution paradigm prioritised a few high-yielding varieties supported by irrigation, fertilisers, and assured procurement. While this approach enhanced food grain production, it marginalised diverse crops that did not fit into industrial farming models. Underutilised fruits and vegetables, often grown in mixed or forest-based systems, were excluded from mainstream value chains.

Consumer behaviour has reinforced this trend. Urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and the rise of processed foods have altered dietary preferences towards refined and convenience foods. Many traditional crops are perceived as coarse, time-consuming to prepare, or associated with poverty. This cultural shift reduced demand, leading to market disappearance and eventual decline in cultivation. The article notes that even policymakers and researchers internalised these biases, further perpetuating neglect.

However, it would be simplistic to view modern agriculture solely as detrimental. Advances in logistics, food processing, and digital marketing can be leveraged to revive these crops. The challenge lies in reorienting modern systems towards diversity and nutrition sensitivity. A balanced approach that combines scientific innovation with respect for traditional knowledge is essential to reverse the decline.

The revival of underutilised crops can significantly enhance sustainable livelihoods for small and marginal farmers by reducing input costs, diversifying income sources, and improving resilience. Many of these crops, such as ber, karonda, and yam bean, are well adapted to local agro-climatic conditions and require fewer external inputs like chemical fertilisers and pesticides. This lowers cultivation costs and reduces farmers’ vulnerability to price shocks.

Real-world examples demonstrate this potential. In parts of Rajasthan and Bundelkhand, value addition to aonla through processing into candies, pickles, and nutraceutical products has created local employment and improved farmer incomes. Similarly, self-help groups cultivating and marketing moringa leaf powder in southern India have tapped into urban health-food markets. These initiatives show how niche markets can be rebuilt around traditional crops.

Moreover, integrating such crops into local food systems strengthens food sovereignty and preserves indigenous knowledge. When supported by institutions like NAAS, FPOs, and state governments, underutilised crops can become engines of inclusive, climate-resilient rural development, aligning economic viability with nutritional and ecological goals.