Focus on . . . Pulses
'Poor man's meat' is a term frequently used to describe pulses, or food legumes, that are grown in regions where consumption of livestock products is limited. The relative composition of carbohydrates and lipids in legumes and their richness in proteins makes them important components for a nutritious diet: the seeds, immature shells or pods and sometimes the leaves or young shoots of various species of pulses can all be consumed. The straw, or haulm, that remains after harvesting is also a useful by-product used as livestock fodder; and the nitrogen-fixing capacity of legumes is invaluable for soil fertility. Cereals provide most of the world's calories but consumer demand for pulses and the potential for exporting a variety of pulse products is increasing. Continuous, intensive cereal cropping has also created pest, disease and soil fertility problems and cereal yields are beginning to level off so introducing pulses can help to break pest/disease cycles and improve soil fertility. Beans, chickpeas, lentils and pigeonpeas are the focus for this month's edition of New Agriculturist as we feature some of the research which is unlocking the potential of pulses.
The common bean can hardly be said to be making a comeback but it is making a new impact, both on food security and as big business for small farmers. So why is a . . .
"Kawomera" is one of two bush varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) developed by CIAT and adopted enthusiastically . . .
A legume that has been revolutionized in recent years is pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan). For years it was looked on only as a poor man's crop - useful only in very dry areas where farmers can only scratch a living. But now . . .
Lentils raise pulse rate in Bangladesh
Production of lentil has long lagged behind domestic demand in Bangladesh, where it is the preferred pulse crop for human consumption. Indeed, lentil is grown so extensively - both as a sole crop and as . . .
Pulses have a firm place in the farming systems of Fiji, particularly in the dry zone areas. They were an early introduction into Fiji by the indentured Indians in the 1880's to make dhal soup and for green vegetables. The major pulses grown . . .
Processing has been identified as a major constraint for introducing pigeonpea into new areas as the dehulling and splitting process is more difficult than for other pulses. In India, the majority of pigeonpea production is . . .
Chickpea has a wide range of adaptation and can be grown from the Equatorial tropics to the temperate northern latitudes (50°N) of Russia and yet yields are still relatively low. In the last 25 years, global production of chickpea . . .
Constraints to commercialization of Pigeonpea in the Caribbean
Pigeonpea, a ubiquitous staple in the Caribbean, is popular for both its palatability and its hardiness. And yet, despite over thirty years of research efforts throughout the region . . .
The highs and lows of cowpea IPM
High and low technologies are being used to promote integrated pest management for cowpeas through IITA's PEDUNE programme. Set up in 1997, PEDUNE (Protection ecologiquement durable du niébé) aims to . . .
