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Underutilized Crop Tech Notes

Underutilized crops are often indigenous ancient crop species which are still used at some level within the local, national or even international communities, but have the potential to contribute further to the mix of food sources than they currently do.

  1. Amaranth Grain & Vegetable Types

    Key Resource
    01-01-1983 Amaranth [Amaranthus hypochondriacus, A. cruentus (grain type) & A. tricolor (vegetable type)] is an herbaceous annual with upright growth habit, cultivated for both its seeds which are used as a grain and its leaves which are used as a vegetable or green. Both leaves and seeds contain...
    Amaranth Grain Crops Leafy Vegetables HIV/AIDS

  2. Leucaena

    19-01-1984 Leucaena leucocephala ("koa haole"-Hawaii; ipil ipil - Phillipines) is a fast-growing, leguminous tree that can be used for reforestation, for firewood, and as a forage crop that can equal alfalfa in nutritional value. There are three basic types of leucaena trees: Hawaiian, Salvador, and Peru....
    Leucaena leucocephala Leucaena Forage

  3. Neem

    Key Resource
    20-04-1984 This technical note was published in the early 80's when there were relatively few sources of information on, or seed for the the neem tree. In recent years much progress has been made in each of these areas. The information contained in this technical note is still quite valuable. A good source...
    Neem Neem Oil Seed Oil Pest Control Pest Management

  4. The Moringa Tree

    Key Resource
    01-06-1985 The moringa tree, Moringa oleifera, has probably been the most popular plant in ECHO's seed bank of underutilized tropical crops. The tree is native to India but has been planted around the world and is naturalized in many locales. Moringa goes by many names. In the Philippines, where the leaves...
    Moringa oleifera Moringa stenopetala Moringa Seed Moringaceae India

  5. Pigeon Pea

    Key Resource 01-01-1990 I often tell folks that ECHO specializes in growing food under difficult conditions. The pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan, is a prime example of a tough but nutritious plant for just such cases. This article is directed toward two audiences. For some of you, pigeon pea is already an important crop. You...
    Pigeon Pea Cajanus cajan

  6. Winged Bean Recipes

    01-04-1998 Traditionally the people of Sri Lanka consume vegetable cooked as curries with the dietary staple, rice. Legumes, in general, play a vital role in Sri Lankan diets and they are being consumed as green vegetables or pulses. Edible legumes are excellent sources of dietary protein and oil....
    Winged Bean Recipes Vegetable Legumes Legumes

  7. Banana, Coconut & Breadfruit

    Key Resource
    01-06-1998 There are more than one hundred major species of fruits in the tropics, which make a very interesting contribution to the appetite as well as to good nutrition. These species vary in ecological requirements, in season of production, in yields, uses and, of course, in many other characteristics....
    Banana Coconut Breadfruit

  8. Egusi Recipes

    01-11-1998 In West Africa, the name Egusi is applied to members of the gourd family having seeds of high oil content. Egusi Melon plants closely resemble watermelon plants; both have a non climbing creeping habit and deeply cut lobed leaves. The pulp of the watermelon fruit, however, is sweet and edible...
    Egusi

  9. Cashew

    01-01-1999 The cashew, Anacardium occidentale, is a resilient and fast-growing evergreen tree that can grow to a height of 20 m (60 ft). It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, which also contains poison ivy and the mango. Native to arid northeastern Brazil, the cashew was taken around the world by the...
    Nuts Cashew Anacardium occiden...

  10. Jicama

    01-10-1998 Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) of the fabaceae or leguminosae family is a short-lived perennial, often grown as an annual leguminous climbing vine, which during short days will flower, produce long, inedible pods, and develop tuberous roots. These are few in number per plant, usually spherical, but...
    Pachyrhizus erosus Yam Bean Jicama

  11. Moringa Leaf Powder

    Key Resource
    20-01-2005 The leaves of the Moringa oleifera tree are very nutritious. They can be consumed fresh, cooked or dried. Since dried Moringaleaves retain their nutrient content, it is possible to convert them into leaf powder. When there is an abundance of leaves, this leaf powder can be made and stored easily....
    HIV/AIDS Moringa Nutrient Retention

  12. Moringa Water Treatment

    Key Resource
    01-03-2005 In addition to food, shelter and clothing, water is one of our basic human needs and lack of potable water is a major cause of death and disease in our world. The purpose of this document is to provide information on household water treatment using seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree. Using...
    Moringa Moringa oleifera Moringa Seed Water Treatment

  13. Chaya

    Key Resource
    01-01-2006 Dr. Martin Price, co-founder of ECHO and former head of ECHO’s Agricultural Resources Department, has said, “I would consider chaya to be one of the five most important underutilized food plants ECHO distributes. I give it this rank because of its ability to thrive in both arid and rainy regions,...
    Chaya Cnidosculous chaya... Underutilized Crops

  14. Lagos Spinach

    01-01-2007 In a world where hunger and poverty are issues with a large percentage of the population, technology and education are wanting, and agricultural resources are often scarce, a farmer is thankful for low-maintenance crops that will grow with a minimal input of effort and resources. Lagos spinach...
    Dark Green Leafy V... Lagos Spinach Spinach Underutilized Crops Celosia argentea

  15. Seed Saving: Steps & Technologies

    Key Resource
    01-06-2010 Seeds naturally have a place in almost any endeavor having to do with agricultural development. Seeds of most food plants are small and, as such, are more easily transported and can be shipped longer distances than vegetative cuttings. For the farmer, seeds represent the promise of a continued...
    Seeds Seed Saving Seed Storage Seed Systems Seed Drying Seed Production Seed Germination Seed Selection Seed

  16. Introducing A New Fruit Crop

    Key Resource
    20-01-2011 Over the past 30 plus years that we have been working with small-scale farmers in Central Africa, we have enjoyed the wonderful lushness of its forests, savannahs, and rivers. In addition, we have been privileged to get to know some of the many people groups, with their different cultures and...
    Fruit Trees Food Security Orchard Tropical Food Crops Nuts

  17. Lablab (Lablab purpureus) New Staple Crop for the Sudano Sahel

    Key Resource
    20-01-2013 About 98% of agricultural production in the Sudano Sahelian region of West and Central Africa is based on rainfed crops. With a mean annual rainfall of 300 to 800 mm/year, the number of staple crops is very limited. It includes two grain crops: pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) for sandy soils...
    Lablab Pulses Intercropping Food Security FMNR Forage Crop Nitrogen Fixation Rain-fed Agriculture