Amaranthus: Development opportunity crop for marginal farmers livelihood and nutritional security

Abstract

Marginal holdings are very essential for improving agricultural growth and economy of India asthese holdings contribute to more than 80% of the country’s agriculture. However, marginalfarmers face several challenges in the form of reduced yields, reduced soil quality, total cropfailures, limited access to fertilizers and irrigation, pest and disease build up in the farm, andclimate changes. Adding diversity in the fields with alternative crops could help to mitigate suchissues and can contribute to the economic and ecological sustainability. Amaranthus is a highlynutritious pseudo-cereal which can grow well on marginal lands under demanding environmentbeing a short cycle, drought and salinity tolerant crop. It is a multipurpose C4 plant used as a‘4F’ crop (Food, Feed, Fuel and Fiber) which makes it a remunerative crop highly suitable forcrop diversification on marginal lands