Underutilized Vegetables, Importance and Its Utilization by the Tribal Community of Tripura, North-East India
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Debbarma et al. Available Ind. J. Pure online App. at Biosci. www.ijpab.com (2020) 8(2), 471 -483 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7665 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(2), 471-483 Research Article Underutilized Vegetables, Importance and Its Utilization by the Tribal Community of Tripura, North-East India Sajal Debbarma1*, Jayanta Jamatia2 and Thangjam Churachand Singh3 1Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Vegetable Science, G.B.P.U.A.T., Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India 2Ph.D. Scholar, Division of Vegetable Science, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India 3Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Agronomy, G.B.P.U.A.T., Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 3.06.2019 | Revised: 15.07.2019 | Accepted: 24.07.2019 ABSTRACT Vegetables being a rich source of essential nutrients and antioxidants are the key component of the balanced human diet and also the main drivers in achieving global nutritional security by providing nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. The vegetable crops, which are neither grown commercially on large scale nor traded widely, may be termed as underutilized. Tripura is the second smallest state among the eight north-eastern states of India. There are 19 ethnic groups viz. Tripuri, Jamatia, Reang, Noatia, Chakma, Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Garo, Halam, Khasia, Kuki, Lepcha, Lushai, Mog, Munda, Orang, Santhal and Uchoi residing in this state. Each group has its own unique language, culture, and food habit. Tripura has a diversity of underutilized vegetables embedded with rich nutrient potentials and medicinal properties along with the ability to stand against adverse climatic conditions. However, these underutilized vegetables are still neglected due to the lack of complete knowledge about their performance and input requirements, lack of planting materials, lack of information on how they can fit into production systems and non-viability of indigenous vegetable production like the major cultivated species of vegetables. In this context, it is necessary to take up programme on genetic resources exploration, management, utilization and improvement of these underutilized vegetable crops to ensure food and nutritional security for the future. This review article emphasizes the diversity of underutilized vegetables found in Tripura, their nutritional and medicinal value which could ensure food as well as nutritional security in India. Keywords: Underutilized vegetables, Tripura, North -East India. INTRODUCTION range of underutilized vegetable crops. Some The vegetable crops, which are neither grown of these names are Orphan, abandoned, commercially on large scale nor traded widely, neglected, lost, underused, local, minor, may be termed as underutilized. Different traditional, forgotten, alternative, niche, names are used interchangeably to describe the promising and underdeveloped. Cite this article: Debbarma, S., Jamatia, J., & Singh, T.C. (2020). Underutilized Vegetables, Importance and Its Utilization by the Tribal Community of Tripura, North-East India, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(2), 471-483. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7665 Copyright © March-April, 2020; IJPAB 471 Debbarma et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(2), 471-483 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Underutilized vegetables have local or nutrition. Focusing on underutilized vegetables regional importance and traditionally used for is an effective way to help maintain a diverse their fruit, fibre, fodder, oil or medicinal and healthy diet and to combat micronutrient properties but generally, lack national deficiencies, the so-called „hidden hunger‟ and recognition and appreciation. However, these other dietary deficiencies particularly among species have an under-exploited potential to the rural poor and the more vulnerable social ensure food security, nutrition, health, income groups in developing countries. Furthermore, generation, and environmental services. underutilized vegetables possess high Tripura is a landlocked hilly state resistance to several biotic and abiotic stress having a geographical area of 10,491 km2. It is and can successfully be used in a plant the second smallest state among the eight breeding programme. Underutilized vegetables northeastern states of India. There are 19 play an important role in the life of rural ethnic groups viz. Tripuri, Jamatia, Reang, people; they have potential to contribute to Noatia, Chakma, Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Garo, poverty elimination through employment Halam, Khasia, Kuki, Lepcha, Lushai, Mog, opportunities and income generation and also Munda, Orang, Santhal and Uchoi residing in through improved efficiency and profitability this state. They speaks in their own language of farm household labour use in both rural and called “Kokborok”. Each group has its own urban environments. With the use of unique language, culture and food habit underutilized vegetable crops, there is a way to (Barman, 1983). It is rich with floristic reduce the risk of over-reliance on a very diversity and falls under the biogeographic limited number of major crops. Besides, they zone of North East B hills. The vast forest can contribute to sustainable livelihoods cover extends up to 57.73% of the state total through household food security as they can geographical area (Anonymous, 2011). The widen the food edibility options. They can also flora comprises 379 tree, species, 320 shrubs, provide a broad spectrum of crops to improve 581 herbs 165 climbers, 16 climbing, shrubs, productivity and global food security and to 35 ferns and 45 epiphytes (Drury, 2006). meet new market demands. Tripura being rich being rich in plant diversity, List of underutilized vegetables in Tripura has a very large number of underutilized 1. Amorphophallus companulatus vegetable crops. Most of them are very rich (Elephant foot yam): It is a tropical tuber sources of vitamins, minerals, and other crop belongs to the family Araceae. It is a nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and perennial, herbaceous plant found abundantly fats. Since the underutilized horticultural crops in the forest of Tripura. In local „Kokborok‟ have a long history of consumption, the local language it is called as „Mui Morong‟. The people are aware of their nutritional and stem, Leaf, and Flower are used as medicinal properties. Moreover, these are vegetables. The corms are dug out after the cheap and readily available. crop is matured and processed as „Batima‟ is Importance of Underutilized vegetables also used in the preparation of local dish Underutilized vegetables constitute essential such as „Mosodeng‟ (chutney). The corms biological assets of the rural poor and can are dry, acrid, pungent; increases both contribute to improving the well-being of appetite and taste; digestive, anthelmintic millions of tribal population. Underutilized and aphrodisiac; useful in vitiated conditions vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and of vata and kapha, elephantiasis, other health-promoting factors including high inflammations, haemorrhoids, haemorrhages, antioxidant activity than other widely available abdominal pain, asthma, piles, dysentery, commercial species and varieties. They play a splenopathy, amenorrhoea, seminal major role in the diversification of diet leading weakness, fatigue, anaemia and general to a more balanced source of micronutrients. debility (Jain et al., 2009, Ramalingam et al., Their enhanced use can bring about better 2010). Besides, the corms are reported to Copyright © March-April, 2020; IJPAB 472 Debbarma et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(2), 471-483 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 have antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic triterpenoids ( Anonymous, 1985, Khan et activities due to presence of a diterpenoid al., 2008) namely salviasperanol and amblyone, a Plant of Elephant foot yam and processed corm ‘Batima’ 2. Alpinia allughas (Retz.) (Bamboo- is used as an aphrodisiac, tonic, diuretic, leaved Galanga): It is a stout perennial herb expectorant, appetizer, and analgesic. Besides, with tuberous, aromatic roots belonging to the it also yields essential oil (0.05%) which ginger family. Morphologically it is contain caryophyllene oxide (23.07%), characterized by the presence of rhizome, geraniol (19.93%), eudesmol (19.93%), simple, wide-brim leaves protected by showy citronellyl acetate (16.5%), citronellol (6.8%), bracts and terminal inflorescences. It is called b-caryophyllene (5.45%), a-pinene (3.84%), as „Thorai‟ in Tripura. In Tripura mainly the linalool (2.86%) (-) a-phellandrene (1.6%) and tender part of the stem after removal of the geranyl acetate (0.16%) (Rastogi & Mehrotra, bracts is used as vegetables and preferred by 1991). Unani physicians consider it as a good many due to its pleasant aroma. The rhizome remedy for impotence (Asolkar et al., 1992). 3. Amaranthus spinosus L. (Spiny However, the thornless type is also found. Amaranthus): Amaranthus spinosus, Leaves, stems, and flowers are cooked, commonly known as the spiny amaranth, spiny steamed or fried and consumed as vegetable. pigweed, prickly amaranth or thorny amaranth Its leaves are excellent sources of protein, with is a leafy vegetable of Amaranthaceae family, its maximal accumulation in the blossoming locally known as „Kuskuriya Dalok‟ in phase (Kadoshnikov et al., 2005). Tripura. The plant is small, characterized by Traditionally, the leaves and roots are used as the presence of thorns all over the stems. laxative, diuretic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, Copyright © March-April, 2020;