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structurd and filnctiolial Impol.taiIcc. Carbol~ydr~tes and lipids are tllz prll~cipal sources oi'
energy while llp~ds and some protelns are structurally s~gntficant. Another class of
proteins, v~tamins, carbohydrates and various small organic and 1norg:lnic nlolecules arc
function;~lly very important. Most of tllcsc org;lnlc n~acromoleculcs In conibinat~o~~ wttll
several lnorganlc molecules must be supplied estcr~ially in the form of diet though tl~crc IS
synthesizing machinery wlthin the body for sotlie of the molecules. Most of tlle countrlcs
depend upon meat, poultry, eggs ctc, fo~ these d~ctary supplements. Ucvcloped world
derives liiuch of its protein (46%) and cnrboliydrates (20%) from antnlal products llkc
meat, poultry, eggs and fish and otlier seafoods, while developing coutitries der~ve thc
protetli (64%) and energy source (65%) primarily iio~l~ agrl-based foods. Ilenceforth,
economies of the later are directly deperide~>t on agriculture.
Agricultural practices and crop selectiol~ dates back to ovcr ten tilousand ycura and
ancient agriculture \+as mostly characterized by few crop v;lr~etics that nourislled relatively
few peoplc and thcir domesticated anitnals. Tlic early moderate popul:~l~ona demanded
equally tnodcrate agricultural outputs. Howcver, static civilizations stiniulnted wide array
of social and cultural tratisfoiiiiat~ons tliat ste;ldlly increased the population as well, which
in :urn nccc,s~tated better yield froni the selected crops. It was oi~ly stncc 19'~ century that
dramatic advances took place in agriculture in terms a!' quality and quziotity i\,llicll was
made posslble by well-concerted efforts of sc~cl~tists lion1 all ovcr tile world co~nmitted fbr
a common czluse of food-for-all.
Presently around 200 plant species with tliousnnds of cultivars address the issue of
human diet. Alllong these only 15 species col~tribute 9OU/o of diet where rice, wheat and
corn contribute up to 70%. Though these three crops arc kliown as staple food crops of thc
world, some of the tllird world countries arc not in a position to cultivate and maintain