Underutilized fruit crops in semi-arid climates: Challenges, innovations, and future prospects

Underutilized fruit crops in semi-arid climates offer significant potential to enhance food security, support sustainable agriculture, and boost rural economies. These crops, which have adapted to thrive in harsh environmental conditions such as drought, high temperatures, and poor soil fertility, are often overlooked in favor of conventional species. This review explores the major challenges associated with cultivating underutilized fruit crops in semi-arid regions, including poor market infrastructure, limited research, and water scarcity. It also highlights recent innovations, such as genetic improvements and sustainable farming practices, that are helping to improve crop performance and marketability. Case studies of crops such as bael, moringa, and pomegranate provide real-world examples of success. Finally, the paper offers recommendations for future research, policy support, and sustainable agricultural practices, positioning underutilized crops as crucial to addressing the global challenges of climate change and food insecurity.