Vol. 10, Issue 9 (2021)

Author(s):
SK Attar, MA Khan, Ramu Meena, M Nitharwal, SR Dhaka, HS Jatav, K Chandra, S Kumawat, Mujahid Khan, D Tripathi and SC Mahala

Abstract:
The underutilized fruits found growing wild in the hot arid regions of India can address to India’s key problems of desertification, hunger, malnutrition, rural development and have immense potential to vegetate the degrading lands and deserts. The domestication of these fruits is the sustainable approach to enhance fruit availability in the arid regions providing food security to tribal population as global warming is going to affect the food production. Ker (Capparis decidua) fruits are storehouse of energy with macronutrients, micronutrients and dietary phytochemicals which make them nutraceutical foods of the future. The value addition of these fruits is in practice among the native population and the recipes have passed from generation to generation though very less documented. They are processed on household scale and consumed during dearth period or in community functions as traditional dishes. Owing to their medicinal properties, there is immense scope for value added product development to boost the immunity.