Item Details

Title: Mainstreaming Efficient Legume Seed Systems in Eastern Africa: Challenges, opportunities and contributions towards improved livelihoods

Date Published: 2018
Author/s: Ojiewo, C.O., Rubyogo, J.C., Wesonga, J.M., Bishaw, Z., Gelalcha, S.W., Abang, M.M.
Data publication:
Funding Agency :
Copyright/patents/trade marks: FAO
Journal Publisher:
Affiliation: FAO
Keywords:

Abstract:

Legumes are important components of sustainable
farming systems. They are useful to diversify and
intensify cropping systems as double, catch, relay
and intercrops; fix ‘free’ nitrogen to soils from the
atmosphere and improve soil health that boost cereal
crop yields; act as rotation crops for breaking disease
and pest cycles; increase and diversify smallholder
incomes (and hence buffer them from the effects
of price, pest and climate-related production
fluctuations); enhance quality of household diets
because of their higher protein and micro-nutrient
content compared with starch-based staple cereal
crops; and provide good sources of animal feed (high
protein crop residues and byproducts) and low carbon
footprint, mitigating climate change