Perspective on the present state and future usefulness of marama bean (Tylosema esculentum)

Marama bean has potential as a food security crop in arid regions. The steps needed for it to be domesticated to provide uniform individuals for farmers to grow are detailed. The possibility of a value-added chain for growers aside from the food product is also considered. AbstractRecent focus on indigenous knowledge of plant species that have long been consumed by mankind, but not having a prominent place in organized agriculture, has raised the profile of what steps are needed to bring such potentially useful plant species into formal agriculture practice. Many of these orphan plants have been cultivated, albeit usually without much improvement.Tylosema esculentum (marama bean) is unusual; in that, it has not been grown as a crop but only collected from wild stands. The nutritious seeds have been consumed, and other potentially useful products from the marama seeds and tubers have been identified. The marama bean grows under inhospitable environments, particularly hot arid conditions, and, if domesticated, could be grown in environments where there are no high-yielding alternatives. The perspective of this article is to view the current status of the marama bean domestication and the possible pathways to bring this plant into wider agricultural use. The scientific basis for an improved crop yield needs to be coupled with the identification of possible added value characteristics for growers. These include acceptability as a food, possible industrial use, the development and...
Source: Food and Energy Security - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: OPINION Source Type: research