S02 - Session O1 - Conservation and Sustainable Use of Tropical Fruit Diversity for Improved Livelihood, Nutrition Security and Ecosystem Services

Authors: Jai Rana *, Surinder Malik, Sudhir Ahlawat, Prem Mathur

Food systems, nutrition, health care and livelihood security are of great concern to human, social and economic development. Producing food that is good for people and planet has never been more pertinent. Yet, although there has been much progress in food production globally, still large segment of population is undernourished. In this context, fruits have emerged as a better option not only to provide required nutrients but also to enhance access to food from production systems that support biodiversity and climate mitigation, through low carbon production systems. Indigenous fruits are good source of protective food available to meet the vitamins and minerals requirements in their poor diet. However, despite being highly nutritious and even medically valuable to human health most indigenous fruit tree species are still not fully utilised. This challenge calls for increased knowledge, capacity, and uptake of innovative technologies and fresh approaches to maintain fruit diversity and quality post-harvest including preserving their high nutritional value. Community-based participation would encourage farmers to protect, grow and promote indigenous fruit diversity in their own farmlands, backyards, community lands etc and shortening the food supply chain between field and fork through various govt led schemes such as holistic nourishment (POSHAN Abhiyaan) school feeding programs etc., are the possible solutions. The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in collaboration with national partners like ICAR-NBPGR have and is implementing several projects on mainstreaming tropical fruits diversity in India. Activities such as recognition of custodian farmers for conserving fruit trees diversity, establishment of fruit diversity orchards, nurseries for distribution, organising diversity fairs and training programmes, documentation of traditional knowledge, registration of native varieties to ensure access and benefit sharing, capacity building of farmers in nursery raising and processing through communities such as Self-Help Groups, and involvement in marketing through value addition are being undertaken in India.