Minor and Uncultivated Fruits of Eastern India

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.