Underutilized crops as a resource to combat the food, nutrient, and economic security in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Food insecurity in Sri Lanka has risen dramatically owing to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent economic crisis. Movement and activity restrictions imposed to control the spread of the pandemic, combined with acute shortages of essential food items, have had a severe impact on people's livelihoods, resulting in food insecurity and increased vulnerability to malnutrition. Provision of quality food for the community at a minimum cost is prioritized by the government due to consecutive seasons of poor harvests, foreign exchange shortages, higher food inflation, and reduced household purchasing power. Currently, the focus has shifted to find sustainable food sources to meet both the nutritional and economic needs of communities. Meanwhile, consumption patterns based on a few dominant species of major food crops are recognized as one of the biggest threats to global nutrition and food security and this is also true for Sri Lanka. As a result, there is a growing need to discover new food crops targeting healthy and diversified dietary patterns.Effective use of underutilized crops (UCs) in this context appears to be one of the imperative means to minimize the pressure mounted on major crops as they could produce different kinds of foods rich with macro- (Protein and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (Vitamins and minerals- Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron). Fruits, vegetables, cereals tubers/yams and medicinal plants are examples for different groups of underutilized crops that are nutrient-dense, health-promoting, and climate-resilient. UCs are well adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions as well as low-input farming systems. Their systematic cultivation is advantageous in rural areas where people have poor income generation and lack of market accessibility. Therefore, this rich genetic diversity could be used to enhance food and economic security in numerous ways, most importantly through, direct access to a diversity of nutritionally-rich foods, increased purchasing power from savings on food bills and year-round income from selling the value-added products. It is essential that people know how best to make use of these invaluable natural resources to ensure their wellbeing. This review discusses on the positive aspects of promoting UCs on addressing food, nutrient and economic security in Sri Lanka.