What are Neglected and Underutilized Species ?
The global dominance of a few major cereal crops has led to the marginalization of traditional species, reducing agrobiodiversity and increasing the vulnerability of food systems. Neglected and unterutilized species (NUS) are plants with excellent nutritional properties, but which have somehow been abandoned due to a lack of market demand or a lack of deeper understanding of their nutritious properties, health benefits and valuable use in local dishes.
Promoting the use of NUS offers a sustainable pathway to build climate-resilient food systems while improving food security and conserving agrobiodiversity.
NUS in the CROPS4HD project
Through the project Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops and Products for Healthier Diets (CROPS4HD), SWISSAID encourages the cultivation of essential, yet often underutilized, nutrient-rich crops.
The project focuses on improving seed conservation through seed banks, increasing access to local seeds, and supporting small-scale farmers in producing these crops. This approach aims to enhance food security, nutrition, income, and environmental sustainability.
NUS in the CROPS4HD countries
CROPS4HD currently works with a total of 58 NUS crops across the 5 countries, including 17 NUS used across several countries. The table below presents the 17 which overlaps across countries. If you are curious about the other NUS developped in each country, click on the name of the country.
| Tanzania | Zimbabwe | Chad | Niger | India | |
| Amaranth (leaves/grain) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sesame | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bambara bean | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Finger Millet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Moringa | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Okra | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Pumpkin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| White sorrel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| African eggplants | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Barnyard millet | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Guava | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pearl Millet | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pigeon Pea | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Red Sorrel | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Sorghum | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Spider plant | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Sweet potatoes leaves | ✓ | ✓ |
Learn more about the properties of the 17 common NUS shared across countries
Amaranth
Amaranth is widely cultivated across Africa, India, and China. Its leaves are popular for their versatility as vegetables and are commonly added to various dishes. Amaranth is particularly beneficial for small-scale farmers due to its fast growth and ability to provide multiple harvests throughout the year, ensuring a steady income. Amaranth thrives during both dry and rainy seasons, allowing for year-round cultivation, and its demand in the market is consistently high.
Sesame
Sesame scientifically known as Sesamum indicum, is a valuable food and commercial crop cultivated for its nutrient-rich seeds, which are used to make sesame milk, oil, and various food products. Sesame grows best in areas with temperatures between 24°C and 32°C and at altitudes around 1200 meters above sea level. It thrives in loamy, sandy soils. In Tanzania, sesame is widely grown in regions like Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Pwani, Morogoro, Dodoma, Tanga, Rukwa, and Mbeya.
Bambara beans
Bambara beans are an important drought-resistant pulse crop in Africa, serving as a valuable alternative to other nuts and pulses, especially in regions with limited water resources. This crop is highly beneficial for smallholder farmers, as it thrives in high temperatures and arid environments where other pulses cannot grow. Bambara beans are well-suited for low-input farming systems and areas facing frequent drought. Additionally, they are resistant to pests and insects. Bambara beans also enrich the soil by naturally fixing nitrogen, making them ideal for intercropping with other staple crops like maize, sorghum, millet, and cassava. Their leaves, rich in nitrogen and potassium, serve as excellent livestock feed.
Finger millet
Finger millet is a type of millets that thrives in a range of environments, from tropical heat to high elevations, and can grow even in poor, low-fertility soils, including saline soils. It is commonly intercropped with legumes like chickpeas, green grams, peas, and beans, providing an additional income source for farmers. Finger millet has a long storage life and is naturally resistant to pests, making it an ideal crop in regions prone to food scarcity. It can be consumed as whole grain or ground into flour.
Moringa
The moringa tree (Moringa oleifera) is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to northern India and used extensively in South and Southeast Asia. Widely celebrated as a “miracle tree” for its exceptional nutritional density and medicinal properties. Nearly every part of the plant is used for nutritional, industrial, or therapeutic purposes.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are native from North America, but are now cultivated worldwide, including in Tanzania, Niger and Zimbabwe. They grow best in areas with moderate sunlight, well-drained soils, and sufficient fertility. Pumpkins are highly valued as multiple parts of the plant—including leaves, fruit, flowers, and seeds—are edible and nutritious.
Sweet potato leaves
Sweet potato leaves known as Matembele in Swahili, are nutrient-rich greens containing a variety of vitamins and minerals that help boost immunity and increase blood levels. They are commonly prepared as vegetables, soups, or stews, and can also be used in mashed foods for children.
Sorghum
Sorghum is a versatile, drought-resistamt cereal grain native to Africa. Naturally gluten-free and packed with fiber and antioxidants, it is used globally for human consumption, livestock fodder, and biofuel. The grain can be cooked like rice, popped like popcorn, milled into flour, or processed into sweet syrup.
Okra
Okra provides exceptional nutritional, physical, and environmental benefits. It is highly prized for its rich vitamin profile, blood sugar regulation, and gastrointestinal support. Furthermore, its physical properties serve industrial and agricultural purposes, including acting as a water purifier and a sustainable biofuel
White sorrel
In Africa, “white sorrel” typically refers to the white-sepaled variant of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) or various Wood Sorrel species native to southern Africa (Oxalis genus). Native to West Africa, this plant is best known for its deep crimson, sour calyces used to make the famous ruby-red Caribbean and African holiday punch.
African eggplant
African eggplants are versatile vegetables used in various ways, including as food and medicine. This crop thrives in diverse climates across Tanzania, growing well in temperate zones with moderate temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. It prefers well-drained, fertile soil.
Barnyard millet
Barnyard millet (Echinochloa species) is a highly nutritious, gluten-free, and climate-resilient crop known for its rapid growth and high dietary fiber content. It has a low glycemic index, making it ideal for blood sugar management, and is an excellent source of digestible proteins, iron, and micronutrients
Guava
The guava plant (Psidium guajava) is highly prized for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Every part of the plant—from the fruit and leaves to the bark and roots—contains bioactive compounds like flavonoids and tannins that offer numerous health benefits.
Pearl millet
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a robust, heat-tolerant annual grass grown for its drought-resistance and nutritional density. It reaches heights of 1.2 to 4 meters with thick stems, extensive fibrous roots, and large cylindrical seed spikes. The crop is renowned for its low environmental footprint, thriving in poor, sandy soils
Pigeon pea
The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a highly resilient, perennial shrub native to tropical regions. It is celebrated for its incredible drought tolerance, fast-growing deep taproot, and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, which simultaneously enhances soil fertility, breaks up hardpans, and provides valuable mulch and livestock fodder
Red sorrel
The red sorrel plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa), also known as roselle or Jamaican sorrel, is highly prized for its vibrant red calyxes. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and polyphenols, and is well known for its properties in supporting cardiovascular health, reducing inflammation, and combating harmful microbes.
Spider plant
Spider plant is a wild vegetable traditionally foraged rather than cultivated. Recently, it has begun to be farmed due to growing recognition of its health benefits, especially its use in traditional medicine. Spider plant is rich in essential nutrients and minerals and is easy to grow with minimal irrigation. Its roots are known for their ability to relieve chest pain, and the vegetable itself is used as a remedy for constipation, cough, and colds. Boiled leaves are often used to treat diarrhea. Due to its health benefits, there is a growing need to educate the community about the importance of Spiderplant.