Food Legume Improvement Program 1986

Abstract

The Food Legume Improvement Program continued its research and training efforts with the objective of improving the productivity and yield stability of faba bean (Vicia faba), lentil (Lens culinaris) and kabuli-type chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Although these crops may appear to be of minor significance in global statistics for agricultural production and trade, or for contributions to the nutrition of mass populations, they are of immense value in the rainfed farming systems of low rainfall areas of the West Asia and North Africa region and areas in many other countries having a Mediterranean type of climate. In such countries there are 1ittle alternatives to these crops and they are not only an important source of high quality yet cheap protein in the diets of the people but also provide rich crop residues as animal feed and play a key role in maintaining the productivity of soil through biological nitrogen fixation.