**Agricultural Aspects**:
– **Origins and Cultivation**:
– Originates from West Africa.
– Cultivated in warm tropics of Sub-Saharan Africa.
– Widely grown in Kwara state, northern Nigeria, and northern Ghana.
– Third most important leguminous crop in West African countries.
– **Biology**:
– An annual, herbaceous plant.
– Fast-growing with a growth cycle of 90-170 days.
– Seeds develop within pods underground.
– Different morphological characteristics between wild and domesticated types.
– **Biological Nitrogen Fixation**:
– Fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enhancing soil fertility.
– Can be used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers.
– Aids in sustainable agriculture practices.
– **Cultivation Requirements**:
– Optimal soil depth, pH, and texture specifications.
– Preferred climate zones, temperature range, and rainfall levels.
**Production and Yield**:
– **Global Production**:
– Annual production estimated at 0.2 million tonnes worldwide.
– Sub-Saharan Africa is the largest producer.
– West Africa leads global production.
– **Yield Statistics**:
– Production increased from 29,800 tonnes in 1972 to 79,155 tonnes in 2015.
– Yield varies across Africa, with some regions reporting higher yields.
– Reported mean yields in specific countries like Ghana and Nigeria.
**Nutritional Aspects**:
– **Nutrition**:
– Nutrient-dense and considered a complete food.
– Underutilized food source in Benin.
– Rich in various macronutrients and micronutrients.
– **Anti-nutritional Factors**:
– Presence of ANFs affecting protein digestibility.
– Various treatments to reduce ANFs and enhance nutritional value.
**Utilization and Applications**:
– **Culinary Use**:
– Seeds used for food and beverages due to high protein content.
– Different culinary practices and traditional uses in Nigeria.
– Potential gastrointestinal effects if not cooked properly.
– **Potential Uses**:
– Use in probiotic beverage production.
– Utilization as livestock feed.
– Role in traditional African medicine for various health purposes.
**Research and Development**:
– **Crop Development**:
– Collection of germplasms for breeding focusing on yield and nutritional quality.
– Notable yield gaps in African countries.
– Traditional breeding methods used for enhancement.
– **Genetic Diversity and Improvement**:
– Studies on genetic diversity, improvements, and future challenges.
– Effect of fertilizers on nitrogen fixation.
– Inactivation methods of trypsin inhibitor for improved utilization.