Spreading awareness of the medicinal value of makhana may help in cultivating a market for this uncommon fruit

Taking off from its climatic range Himalayan to tropical India has much to offer in terms of fruit diversity. Large varieties of major fruits are native to the land, but countless other types are also grown throughout India. The bad news is many, many

From major fruits like the mango, banana and citrus to minor ones like karonda and sapthei, the story is the same: genetic erosion is leading India's native fruits to the brink of extinction

Attempts at conserving fruit germplasm as well as creating a market for lesser-known varieties have been far from satisfactory. Also, a whole lot of fruits are yet to be sampled

Conservation of fruits may be difficult, but that is no excuse. Preservation of national assets should be given top priority