Abstract

Nepal has great biodiversity, as a result of its extreme variations in altitude, ecology, farming systems and varied socio-cultural settings. In Nepal, about 200 plant species are consumed as vegetables. The aim of paper is to point out existing indigenous vegetables in Nepal and how these are utilized for food security and biodiversity conservation. Indigenous vegetables are considered valuable because of their ability to fit into year round production, adaptability to adverse condition and their nutritional value. But, only a very few indigenous vegetables are still cultivated at field scale. Most of them are neglected and, many landraces of vegetables are in the process of being replaced by modern varieties. Along with this, the indigenous knowledge associated with the cultivation, utilization, and conservation of indigenous vegetables is also endangered. But, there has been very limited information available about the identification, occurrence, collection, and utilization of indigenous vegetables in Nepal. In this scenario, promotion, conservation, utilization and commercialization of indigenous vegetables can be a better alternative towards improving the food security and nutritional status of the community, particularly those people residing in remote areas and in the hills.

Key words: Commercialization, conservation, indigenous vegetables, landraces, vegetable diversity.