Abstract:
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) also known as peanut, is cultivated in the semi-arid tropical and sub-tropical regions of nearly 100 countries in six continents between 40° N and S of the equator. It is an important legume grown and consumed globally and in particular in sub-Saharan African countries (Okello et al., 2010a). For people in many developing countries, groundnuts are the principal source of digestible protein (25 - 34%), cooking oil (44 - 56%), and vitamins. These qualities make groundnut an important nutritional supplement to mainly cereal diets of maize, millet and sorghum of many Ugandans. In many countries, groundnut cake and haulms (foliage, straw/stems) are used as livestock feed. Groundnut is also a significant source of cash income in developing countries that contributes significantly to livelihoods and food security.