Kenya could reduce chronic food shortages and improve farm earnings by expanding legume production, according to researchers and scientists who met at the seventh International Food Legume Research Conference in Marrakech, Morocco.
The scientists argued that legumes deserve more attention because they strengthen cropping systems and make use of land that is often underused. Dr Chris Ojiewo, a senior scientist and researcher with the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) based in India, said: “The ability of legumes to fix nitrogen improves soil health and enhances the productivity of the subsequent crops,”
Icrisat, which has regional offices in Nairobi, works on agricultural research for development in tropical dryland areas that are often affected by drought, poverty, hunger and malnutrition. The article says those pressures frequently push communities to rely on outside aid.
Dr Ojiewo also said the crop has value beyond human consumption. He noted that haulms from legumes are used as livestock feed and can improve protein intake, milk production and meat quality.
Legumes were also described as useful in breaking pest, disease and weed cycles in cereal-based farming systems. Their fast growth and early maturity help provide soil cover, while the leaves and plant residue can later act as manure as they decay.
The article pointed to the Tropical Legumes Projects, which ran from 2007 to 2019 in Africa and were funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The initiative, hosted by Icrisat, aimed to develop and deliver improved seeds of beans, cowpeas and groundnut to smallholders.
That work was supported by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, working with national programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Production gains across East Africa ¶
The article said the area under legumes in East Africa had almost doubled in the previous 10 years, rising from 0.76 million hectares to 1.58 million hectares. Output also increased three-fold to 1.84 million tonnes.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, selected grain legumes covered 36 million hectares and produced 27 million tonnes, giving an average productivity of 0.89 tonnes per hectare. The figures cited in the article showed beans at 0.94 tonnes, chickpea at 0.98 tonnes, cowpea at 0.48 tonnes and pigeon pea at 0.86 tonnes.
Dr Ojiewo said one of the key goals was to build a sustainable seed delivery system for smallholders, especially underserved women farmers. He added that private seed firms have given limited attention to legume seed business, unlike cereals such as maize.
The International Livestock Research Institute, working with Icrisat and agri-based State agencies, was said to be collaborating with counties and the private sector to support legume farming. The article concluded that the effort could help reduce food insecurity while creating income for both small and large-scale farmers.
