Mungbean in Southeast Asia and East Africa: varieties, practices and constraints

Teresa Sequeros,Pornsiri Suebpongsang,Thi Tan Loc Nguyen,Esther Simfukwe,Ramakrishnan Madhavan Nair,Ratri Tri Hapsari,Nur Khaririyatun,Papias H Binagwa,Rael Karimi,Emmanuel K Mbeyagala,Thira Pinn,Maurice Ogada Juma,Losira Nasirumbi Sanya,Pepijn Schreinemachers,Joseph Rajabu Kangile,Zenaida M Huelgas,Siviengkhek Phommalath,Henry Mvungi,Justus Ochieng

doi:10.1186/s40066-020-00273-7

Abstract

BackgroundImproving the productivity of grain legumes is important to address global challenges of food security and soil degradation. This study’s objective was to quantify the adoption of improved mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties and agricultural practices and to identify production constraints for six countries in Southeast Asia and three countries in East Africa.MethodsA Delphi method using expert elicitation was applied at subnational levels and then aggregated to national levels. Each panel employed repetitive and independent questioning of experts. The study organized 31 expert panels involving 387 experts across 9 countries.ResultsThe share of improved varieties in the planted area, as estimated by the expert panels, was 92% for the Philippines, 91% for Vietnam, 99% for Thailand, 84% for Cambodia, 60% for Indonesia, 35% for Laos, 91% for Kenya, 30% for Uganda and 25% for Tanzania. The average age of improved varieties was 19 years in Asia and 12 years in East Africa. Of the mungbean area in Southeast Asia, 61% was planted to varieties developed by the World Vegetable Center, but this was only 2% in East Africa. Production constraints generally included insect pests and plant diseases, unstable markets with low price and low market demand, and the lack of quality seed of suitable varieties.ConclusionsThere are ample opportunities to improve mungbean productivity through wider use of improved varieties and practices, which is important to meet the contemporary challenges of improving human nutrition and agricultural sustainability.

Highlights

Improving the productivity of grain legumes is important to address global challenges of food security and soil degradation
In Southeast Asia, the selected study locations covered 378,954 ha of the mungbean planted area, equivalent to 82% of the total area under mungbean (86% in Thailand, 86% in Laos, 84% in Indonesia, 82% in the Philippines, 80% in Vietnam, and 68% in Cambodia)
The number of improved varieties is relatively high in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines

Summary

Introduction

Improving the productivity of grain legumes is important to address global challenges of food security and soil degradation. This study’s objective was to quantify the adoption of improved mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties and agricultural practices and to identify production constraints for six countries in Southeast Asia and three countries in East Africa. There is a need to transform global food systems to align these better with the objectives of human health and environmental sustainability [1,2,3,4]. Investments in plant breeding research of nutrient-sensitive crops such as legumes is important for human health and environmental sustainability [9], but guiding this investment and monitoring progress requires better information about the current situation in legume production. Variety development and scaling largely rely on the public sector

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion