The Contribution of Tropical Tuber Crops Towards Food Security

Authors

  • Nayar N.M. J. N. Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha, Palode 695 582, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Keywords:

Tropical tuber crops, food security, staple food, climate change, antinutritional factors, glycaemic index, biofortification

Abstract

Tuber crops (with 5.4% energy) are the second most important group of crop plants providing food  energy to humans after cereals (49%). Of them, the tropical tuber crops (TTCs) contribute 3.9% of  human energy for an average consumption of 28.6 kg capita-1 year-1 (76 kcals capita-1 day-1).Threeof the TTCs - cassava, sweet potato and yam - rank among the top 15 crop plants of the world in area  under cultivation. Two of the most commonly used terms in development science, Food security and  Staple foods, are defined here. The contributions of TTCs to them are highlighted. Cassava and yamsare presently among the major crops that show the highest rates of increase in area under cultivation.  This may be attributed to their resilience to climate changes.  It is proposed that TTCs should double their contribution to food security to 8% by 2030 AD. Towards  this, the factors favouring and disfavouring the TTCs are discussed. Moreover additional steps needed  to be taken to ameliorate/adapt them are dealt with. These include the present very low yields of  TTCs, their low nutritional content, presence of antinutritional factors, high glycaemic index and their  prolonged periods of maturity. The ongoing international efforts to mitigate some of them are  summarized, including biofortification.

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Published

2015-01-15

How to Cite

N.M., N. (2015). The Contribution of Tropical Tuber Crops Towards Food Security. JOURNAL OF ROOT CROPS, 40(1), 3–14. Retrieved from https://journal.isrc.in/index.php/jrc/article/view/225

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 1 (2014): Journal of Root Crops

Section

Overview/Review Articles

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