Food legumes (pulses) playa role in human nutrition and more recently as
animal feed, in the developing world. They contain minerals and vitamins
essential for a balanced diet in humans. In many developing countries
food legumes provide the necessary protein and amino acids (in
predominantly vegetarian India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri
Lanka) and supplement the protein diet of people in other countries.
Since 1980-82 per capita consumption has declined by 6 % in developing
countries where relative pulse prices have gone up and consumption of
animal protein (eg milk) has increased. The importance of legumes as
animal feed is increasing. The compound growth rate for feed use during
1980-95 was 7. 97% compared to 1. 5% growth for food use during the same
period (Kelly et aI., 1997). As an integral part of farming systems,
food legumes, in rotation with cereals and tuber crops, assist in
maintaining soil fertility and the sustainability of production systems
(Rego et aI., 1996). Owing to higher prices in comparison with cereals,
food legumes are increasingly being grown to supplement farmers'
incomes. The major food legumes grown in developing countries are: dry
bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), faba bean (Vicia faba), dry pea (Pisum
sativum), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris), mung bean
(Vigna radiata), black gram (Vigna mungo) pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and
Lathyrns ( Lathyrus sativus). Oil crops such as groundnut (Arachis
hypogaea) and soybean (Glycine max) are food legumes but are not
discussed in this paper.