Bambarra Groundnuts
A traditional crop takes on a new importance
Traditional Asian Crop with a New Role
Bambarra groundnuts are a traditional crop in Southeast Asia. They originated in the area around the edges of the Sahara desert in Africa, but have been grown in Southeast Asia for a long time. Countries in which they are found include Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
In Africa, Bambarra groundnuts are a major leguminous food crop. As well as the seeds, the immature pods can be eaten as a kind of vegetable. In Asia, it has so far been grown only as a minor crop.
The Bambarra groundnut is a hardy crop, well adapted to high temperatures and dry conditions. In fact, it is one of the most drought-resistant of all the groundnuts.
Summer Crop for Okinawa
Recently, scientists in Japan have been developing it as a potential crop for the subtropical islands in the south of Japan. These islands are known as the Ryukyu or Nansei Islands, the largest of which is Okinawa.
These islands experience a shortage of vegetables during the hot, dry summer months. Farmers are also looking for some new and profitable upland crops. It seems likely that the Bambarra groundnut may meet both requirements.
Three elite varieties were bred from germplasm introduced from Africa. Cultural practices were worked out: the best time to sow, fertilizer requirements and so on. Mulching was found to be effective in keeping down weeds and conserving the soil moisture.
Cultivating the Groundnut to Suit Local Conditions
As for harvesting, it was found that the Bambarra groundnuts could be harvested by a small mechanized groundnut harvester already used by Japanese farmers. Although the Bambarra groundnut is sensitive to salty winds, covering the plants with a windbreak net was effective in alleviating the salt damage associated with typhoons.
Root wilt and virus could be controlled by breeding. Two-striped leaf beetle also attacked the plants, but was easily controlled by carbosulfan.
Consumers in Japan found that they liked the Bambarra groundnut very much. They especially liked a mixture of immature groundnut cooked together with sweet bean.
We can expect more improvements in the future, as the Bambarra groundnut is adapted to the conditions of the southern Japan islands. Of particular importance is improved pest and disease control. In this way, an ancient minor crop may be changed to a new major crop for the islands.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Farmer with Bambarra Groundnuts
Figure 2 Mechanical Harvester for Bambarra Groundnuts
Figure 3 Bambarra Groundnuts of Many Colors
