Abstract:
Rapid urbanization process has alienated man from nature. Many wild and minor edible fruit
plants are on the verge of extinction; these were supplementary fruit in addition to our elite
table traits like mango (Mangifera indicaL), grapes (Vitis viniferaL) litchi (Litchi chinensis),
apple (Malm domestica) etc. These fruit have tremendous health benefits and these were in
mise in Ayurvedic medicine. The wild edible fruits loaded with nutrients play an important
role in maintaining livelihood security for many people in developing countries and it
constitute significant portion of daily diet of the people of Sub-Himalayan, Himalayan and
Lateritic zones of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. More emphasis is to be given on these
less unexplored fruits in relation to conservation and utilization so that the tribal people can
get their due share as they have been conserving them for centuries. Food processing and
supply of raw material for preparation of ayurvedic medicine would be the major thrust for
popularizing these fruit crops in the Decade of Biodiversity Conservation 2011-2020.
