Author(s):

Shailbala Dei and Nandana Kumari

Abstract: Food security in India has recently been more alarming than ever before. Increasing pressure on land, environmental degradation and more frequent occurrence of natural calamities like flood, drought etc has worsened the scenario. The status of women and children in the country is far from satisfactory. High rates of infant mortality rate, maternal mortality, low birth weight and high degree of malnutrition are indicative of poor nutritional status of women and children in the country. The establishment of National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) indicated that a large proportion of women are under nourished. Women of child bearing age are at greater nutritional risk than any other population groups owing to the added demands of reproduction. Underutilized crops plays an important role in the well being of humans. They provide energy and protective nutrients like minerals and vitamins and also good sources of dietary fibre. Underutilized fruits are considered a rich source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, a precursor for vitamin A. Underutilized vegetables like green leafy vegetables are a good source of calcium, iron, beta-carotene, vitamin-c, riboflavin and folic acid

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