Arid vegetable genetic resource-conservation and utilization for nutritional and income security under hot arid agro-climate

The vast and diverse land-scape of hot arid, semi-arid and tribal area of north-western India is yet not getting logical thought for resource based production system and the native crop—plants both annual and perennials are drought tolerant and playing vital role in providing nutritious food and eco-restoration. Here, systematic cultivation with prioritized vegetable crop-plants is rare, un-organized and marketable produce is quite marginal, and this is only because of lack of matching genotypes and approaches. Traditionally, kachri (Cucumis melo var. callosus / agrestis), kakadia (Cucumis melo var. momordica), mateera (Citrullus lanatus), tinda (Praecitrullus fistulosus) and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is grown with mixed cropping. Besides, khejri (Prosopis cineraria) has significant role in long-established farming system, and its tender pods are vegetable use. The crop-genotype studies over 45 vegetables at CIAH, Bikaner from 1995-2015 demonstrated that there is magnificent scope in obtaining high quality yields adopting HBCPSMA concept, provided trait specific genotypes. At Bikaner, systematic collection resulted to evaluation of 1725 accessions and out of them 1060 germplasm deposited at NBPGR. Based on characterization, about 500 germplasm utilized in improvement work and 17 varicties released and 15 genotypes are in pipe-line. With khejri models, better yield in prioritized vegetables and income @ Rs 75,000—2,25,000 ha/yzar is obtained in comparison to traditional cropping (23,000—42,000). Thus, the technological advancement in arid vegetables is a key to success toward better economic returns and nutrition to the inhabitants at resource poor environment