ABSTRACT
Worldwide, over 527.05 lakh ha of vegetables were harvested in 2007 for the total production of over 9,088.38 lakh tons (FAOSTAT, 2016). This represents a significant portion of the dietary needs of the world’s human population. Vegetables are considered as “protective supplementary food” as they contain large quantities of minerals, vitamins, and essential amino acids which are required for the normal functioning of the human metabolic processes. They are important to neutralize the acids produced during digestion and are also useful as roughage. Peas and beans are enriched with proteins and tuber crops like potato are well-known as sources of carbohydrates. Calcium, phosphorus, and iron are the important minerals which are lacking in cereals and are available in abundant quantities in vegetables like peas, beans, spinach, and bhindi. Amaranthus, cabbage, and beans contain large quantities of cellulose which aids digestion. All the leafy and fruit vegetables possess the required quantities of vitamins. Above all, most of the vegetable crops possess high medicinal value in curing certain diseases which have now drawn the attention of plant biochemists and pharmacologists to manufacture medicines of biotic origin. In addition, many vegetables have been associated with protective effects against cancer and heart diseases (Table 14.1). Vegetable Profile in South Asia (Year 2007) https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table"> Country Area (lakh ha.) Production (lakh tons) India 59,040 77,243 China 23,717.2 4,516.33 Bangladesh 4.53 31.97 Nepal 2.08 23.75 Pakistan 4.19 55.09 Srilanka 0.81 7.34 Source: https://faostat.fao.org" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">faostat.fao.org.
