Chapter 3 - Health and nutritional aspect of underutilized high-value food grain of high hills and mountains of Nepal

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Abstract High-value underutilized grains—millets, buckwheat, and barley—are crucial for the food and nutrition security especially for the people of high hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal. Characteristics such as climate resilience and easy traditional storage technology without any microbial damage have made these grains smart. Availability of sufficient research on the food and nutrition security aspect, promotion of better farming, and consumption of these high-value grains are at a minimal level. Their role in achieving nutrition security is not adequately identified and understood; they do not feature in food and nutrition policies and programs of Nepal, so it is still hard to erase negative fads and myth about these grains called as poor people’s diet, kuanna, * impure diet (especially for millet). Researchers have shown that the prevalence of undernutrition is higher in the mountains and high hills of Nepal. These areas are well known for high-value grains cultivation belt; however, decreasing cultivation trends of these grains is causing a shift toward rice consumption, which is one of the prime causes of high undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency among people. Low motivation for traditional grain cultivation, changing food habits, and lack of knowledge either about nutritional value or processing are also contributing factors for low utilization of these grains. Prioritization of these grains as smart food in National policy will not only enhance food and nutrition security but also be a means of income generation, balance in biodiversity, and increase in eco-tourism.