The production, consumption and marketing of the fruit crops, especially the commercially produced ones, have gained their own place as the second large pillar of horticulture, after the vegetables. Unfortunately not all crops coming under the category of “fruits” are harvested from huge commercial orchards, loaded with selective and effective inputs, packed with expensive kits and even transported along miles of distance for being exported. A vast portion of the fruit family also exits that are random bearers and most underrated. More than about 150 species of such fruit crops exists and are referred to as stray fruits/ minor fruits/ under-utilised fruits/ under-exploited fruits/ lesser-known fruits/ wild fruits,etc. These are usually numerable, stand as a single tree or an aggregation of a few at a particular area, lasting from months or years back. Some of the recognized names are Passion Fruit, Fig, Karonda, Persimmon, Loquat, Kiwi, Phalsa, Carambola, Mangosteen, Mulberry, etc. while some other like Bilimbi, Hog plum, Elephant apple, Durian, Bread Fruit are even lesser known in Indian states, in spite of some being the native to India.
(Other fruits like Litchi and Rhambutan are from the same family.These are sweet in taste and has effective treatment for diebetic patients.Photographs taken from my neighbours backyard.(one single tree from natural germination) at Jajpur District of Odisha.)
The sad part of this group of flora is that they are not manually regulated, starting from their propagation till the end of their life span. The category is basically nature dependent for growth, where the planting material follows the process of germination, blossoming, etc. only when tapped by the nature. These fruit crops are usually self-occurring humus feeders, wind harvesters and the canopy is often managed by natural calamities. Though the management is non-commercial here, the production and distribution of these fruits is indefinite. And where the same is negligible, there is no question of marketing. Even if some fruits are fate-favored, they are limited only to the trolleys of some fitful vendors, earning them hardly a lunch for the day.
However, irrespective of their habit, habitat, abundance and the ongoing market demands, they are no less contributors of luscious flavor, nutrition, aesthetic gratification and vital medicinal values to the society. In contrast, most of the values are only restricted to the pages of Horticultural text books. It would be surprising to know that in India still many of the fruits from the list are potentially higher in terms of local consumption rate, culinary utility, spiritual demand, etc. and gain tremendous values in comparison to the frequently available ones. Some fruits are even found effective against deadly cancerous diseases, hypoglycemia, heart diseases, dermatological disorders, hair abnormality, sexual dis-functioning, ageing, etc. A number of the stray fruits help tuning up of the CNS and stabilising the body red blood cells count as the primary function.
(Also called as Wild guava, Slow match tree .The fruit has a lot of medicinal values.Photograph taken from a road side forest at Keonjhar District of Odisha.)
It is acceptable that there is a strong reason for the minor fruits to be under-utilised. Perhaps due to the fact that most of the minor fruits are non-palatable and without an eye-catching morphology, unlike other dominant fruits, these are swiped out of the marketing chain system. Selection of promising varieties of such fruit crops, followed by analytical studies on their physiological and genetic behaviour along with the chemical components present in them would perhaps be the front line revolution to their success. Moreover, understanding the values of food security, the studies and researches on the minor fruits are to be prioritised and simultaneously creating commercial orchards for their smooth cultivation, establishment of small scale industries, as startups, for the post-harvest treatments especially grading and packaging is also a vital factor.
The produce, in some cases, may not be consumed raw but can be effectively converted into wide range of value added products like pickles, marmalade, jam and jellies, squash, etc. indulging a large number of youths to find their way to self-employment. Due to the medicinal significance, a number of stray fruits can provide raw materials for the pharmaceutical industries and Ayurvedic homes for manufacture of drugs and medicines out of their dried flesh, rind or kernels. Again, the same can be made to contribute to the wine industries, oil industries, fibre industries, etc. as well.
Last but not the least, introducing and popularising the minor fruits in all over the nation through advertisements of value added products, extension educations through campaign programs and setting up of fruit kiosks at affordable prices would even add to the purpose.Large more aspects are yet to be covered in order to encourage the production and productivity of stray fruits. However, these stray fruits are under-exploited resources of our nation which perhaps deserves, not just an extended syllabus, but an ultimate ‘Minor Fruit Revolution’ in the coming days.
Bimal Dash
Master in Horticulture (Fruit Science)
email:@bimaldash.ar@gmail.com
