Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops and Products for Healthier Diets (CROPS4HD)
This project aims to initiate community-led conservation efforts and promote unique, nutritious and stress-resistant neglected and underutilized species (NUS) from diverse germplasm collections.
Project Name (full): Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops and Products for Healthier Diets (CROPS4HD)
Start and end year: Phase I: 2020-25; Phase II: 2025-29
Region and Countries: India (Odisha, Gujarat, and Maharashtra) and Africa (Niger, Chad, Tanzania)
Funders: FiBL [SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)-Led]
Other partners: Indian Council of Agricultural Research - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Millets Research, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune
Brief Description
Cultivating pulses, oil seeds and millets enhances soil fertility and yields reliable returns, even under fluctuating environmental conditions. Yet, this local biodiversity and the traditional knowledge surrounding it are rapidly declining. Neglected and underutilized species (NUS), such as many varieties of millets, require minimal inputs, thrive under biotic and abiotic stresses, and offer high nutritional value, making them well-suited for smallholder farmers across the world.
Despite their benefits and acceptance among rural communities, limited market access and financial incentives have hindered adoption of NUS. In this context, the project promotes community-led conservation and dissemination of nutritious and resilient NUS crops through diverse germplasm collections.
Key activities
- Identify elite germplasm lines that are both adaptable to specific regions and acceptable to farmers and consumers through participatory trials with local communities
- Generate nutritional data for NUS crops to raise consumer awareness and create demand for them to support the development of healthy diets
- Provide nutritional information, along with proper packaging, to help farmers fetch higher prices and increase their income
Priority crops: Cereals, rice, pulses, mung bean, moth bean, dolichos bean, horse gram, cow pea, barnyard millet, brown top millet, finger millet, mittle millet, millet, kodo millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, oil seeds, yellow mustard, Indian mustard, sesame
Relevant publications
- Comparative analysis of modified partial least squares regression and hybrid deep learning models for predicting protein content in Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) seed meal using NIR spectroscopy
- A comprehensive review on nutritional, nutraceutical, and industrial perspectives of perilla (Perilla frutscens L.) seeds – An orphan oilseed crop
- Multivariate Data Analysis Assisted Mining of Nutri-rich Genotypes from North Eastern Himalayan Germplasm Collection of Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.)
- Development and Validation of Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Prediction Modeling for the Rapid Estimation of Biochemical Traits in Potato
- Harnessing sponge gourd: an alternative source of oil and protein for nutritional security
Team members
- Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT: Sarika Mittra (Consultant), Harinder Vishwakarma (Scientific Consultant)
- ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi: Rakesh Bhardwaj (Principal Scientist), Rashmi Yadav (Principal Scientist)
- ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad: Sooganna (Scientist)
- Agriculture University, Jodhpur: Rahul Bhardwaj (Assistant Professor)
- BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune: Rajashree, Sandip
Project leaders
