European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AVAILABILITY AND CONSUMPTION FREQUENCY OF UNDERUTILIZED GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES IN LOCAL AREAS OF ALLAHABAD

Anisha Verma, Neerubala, Sarita Sheikh, Bhawna Srivastava

ABSTRACT

The dilemma of food and nutritional security is of paramount importance in India. Underutilized crops have promising nutritive value, which can prevent malnutrition and nourish the ever increasing human population. This study was aimed to assess the availability and consumption frequency of underutilized green leafy vegetables in local areas of Allahabad. The four villages namely Budava and Khatangiya from Jasra block, Bagbana and Dhabaon from Chaka block were purposively selected for the study. A total number of 200 women beneficiaries aged between 25-40 years were randomly selected for the study. The data was collected through a developed questionnaire as per pre exposure data. The pooled data shows that Drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera), Pakar (Ficus infectoria) and Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera), Loni (Portulaca quadrifida), Karamwa (Ipomoea aquatica), Lehsua (Digera arvensis), Surwari (Celosia argentea) and Sanai (Crotolaria juncea), Indian sorrel leaves (Oxalis corniculata) and Pathari (Boerhavia diffusa) underutilized green leafy vegetables are available in plenty amount at different seasons. Consumption frequency of available underutilized green leafy vegetable was found that 51.7 percent respondents had never consumed any types of underutilized green leafy vegetables followed by occasionally consumed ( 18.5 %), weekly consumed (15.35%) ,monthly consumed( 11.3 %) and only 3.15 percent respondents were consumed daily. Hence, it is concluded that there is a need to aware them about locally available underutilized green leafy vegetables in order to alleviate micro nutrient deficiencies.

Keywords: Consumption, Availability, Underutilized, Green leafy vegetables, Nutrients.