Of the 2 lac 70 thousand plant species, about 3000 have been used as food. Of These, only 200 species have been domesticated and are cultivated for food. Just, 30 species are considered important
food crops and are responsible for 95 per cent of human nutrition. With a wide range of climatic conditions from the Torrid to the Arctic, India possesses a good genetic wealth of domesticated crops and out 20,000 angiosperm plants, 600 plant species constitute the diversity in vegetable crops, however, presently only one fourth are utilized as major vegetable crops and rest are named as minor, underutilized/neglected, rare vegetables, lesser known vegetables, wild edible vegetables and so on. Underutilized/neglected vegetables fall within the broad basket of minor vegetables comprising a long list viz., sweet gourd, spine gourd, snake gourd etc., vegetable legumes - velvet bean, jack bean, sword bean, tree bean etc., underutilized solanaceous vegetables - tree tomato, pepino etc., underutilized leafy greens and salad, underutilized tuber crops, drumstick and curry leaf etc. These vegetables are rich source of phyto-chemicals and possess significant medicinal attributes and are raised organically. The book Underutilized Vegetable Crops deals about basic concept, nutritional and medicinal properties, genetic diversity and depletion of genetic wealth and efforts of international organizations in conserving them. Under 12 different chapters viz., underutilized cucurbits, underutilized legumes, underutilized solanaceous crops, underutilized leafy crops, underutilized salad crops, underutilized tuber crops more than 150 vegetables have been dealt by giving their nutritional and medicinal attributes along with cultivation details. Apart from these, separate chapters on drumstick, curry leaf and yam bean have also been given. The book Underutilized Vegetable Crops deals about basic concept, nutritional and medicinal properties, genetic diversity and depletion of genetic wealth and efforts of international organizations in conserving them. Under 12 different chapters viz., underutilized cucurbits, underutilized legumes, underutilized solanaceous crops, underutilized leafy crops, underutilized salad crops, underutilized tuber crops more than 150 vegetables have been dealt by giving their nutritional and medicinal attributes along with cultivation details. Apart from these, separate chapters on drumstick, curry leaf and yam bean have also been given.
Dr. A.K. Pandey is Principal Scientist at Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi. He is ARS Scientist of 1985 batch. Dr. Pandey obtained his M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. degree in Horticulture from C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. He participated in the 1st International Post Graduate course on Protected Agriculture in Arid and Semi-Arid Region at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. He has published more than 60 research papers, 50 popular articles and review articles in journals of national and international repute. Dr. Pandey has authored four books (i) Bharat mein Sabji Utpadan : Pramukh Kismein avam Vikas ki Taknike (ii) Grih Vatika avam Hamara Swasthya, (iii) Pattivali Sabjiya and (iv) Alpupyogi Sabjiyan. Dr.Pandey is a prolific writer and he has received several awards and honours for his distinguished academic contribution. Defence Research and Development Organization (D.R.D.O.), Ministry of Defence, Government of India bestowed the honour by giving him first prize of Rajbhasa Puraskar on his book Bharat mein Sabji Utpadan : Pramukh Kismein avam Vikas ki Taknike. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Official Language, Government of Indkia conferred the honour by giving him Rajbhasa Puraskar for 2003-04 under National Award Scheme for original book writing on Gyan Vigyan on his book Grih Vatika avam Hamara Swasthya. Defence Research and Development Organization (D.R.D.O.). Ministry of Defence, Government of India has taken decision to honour him by giving award of Rajbhasa Puraskar on his book Pattivali Sabjiya. Dr. Pandey is a member on board of a number of scientific societies and academic panels. He is a Member of Editorial Board of Indian Society of Vegetable Science (I.S.V.S.), Member of the Institute Management Committee of Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar and Member of Board of Studies, V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur.
