Vanishing Heirloom Vegetables Threaten Food Security and Climate Resilience, Experts Warn

Clove beans, historically known as mookuthi avarai in Tamil, have largely vanished from Indian vegetable markets, surviving mainly in S. Meenakshi Ammal's 1951 cookbook Samaithu Paar. Prabhakar Rao, founder of Hariyalee Seeds in Bengaluru, conserves seeds of these forgotten vegetables alongside heirloom varieties like the Yerengere white long eggplant. Rao notes that vegetable markets are now dominated by commercial hybrids.

Biodiversity Loss

A recent study published in PNAS warns that global vegetable biodiversity is shrinking due to land-use change, market homogenisation, and species extinction. The paper states that about 24% of wild relatives of 79 major vegetable species face extinction risks. Researchers compiled a Global Vegetable Species Dataset listing 1,482 vegetables, though actual numbers remain much higher. Maarten van Zonneveld from the International Potato Center stresses the urgent need to rescue these species before they disappear.

Nutritional Gaps

India's National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources preserves over 30,700 accessions, while the WorldVeg Genebank holds over 65,000 samples. A 2020 London study found average Indian vegetable consumption at 230 grams per person daily, falling short of the FAO-World Bank recommendation of 400 grams. Elizabeth Yorke of Edible Issues explains that uniform market standards have eliminated appreciation for diverse shapes and colours, while low culinary confidence prevents consumers from preparing lesser-known tubers.

Farming Challenges

Rao points out that vegetable cultivation often yields low profits due to price volatility and high input costs. A 2025 analysis shows India ranks lowest in productivity among top global vegetable producers. While the Ministry of Food Processing Industries expanded Operation Greens to cover all vegetables, farmers still struggle with market linkages and weather fluctuations. Colin Khoury from Crop Trust notes that traditional vegetable growing relies on small gardens and rooftops managed by women, the elderly, and children.

Context

Crop diversity acts as a natural buffer against pests, diseases, and changing weather patterns by ensuring that agricultural systems do not depend on a narrow selection of commercial crops. Preserving local seed varieties helps secure long-term food supplies and nutrition, especially for smallholder farming communities facing climate pressures.