Bambara Nut - Vigna subterranea

26/08/2023

Lutta Edwin Mirikwa, welcome on Board. Bambara Nut is the way to go. Wishing you well on this program even as we start working together 💪🏿.

06/06/2023

The Dark Side of Farming:

As much as we encourage young people into farming, come armed with knowledge, it is not MMM, Ultimate cycler, a get rich quick scheme.

Farming is a good venture and can multiply your investments a thousand fold. However, it can also go bad, real quick.

Social media is full of stories of success in farming. Others are not farmers but will pose on farms to chase clout. Lol Farming is not rosy.

The risks in farming include:
Diseases, market flooding, high costs against low yields and ever changing climate.
Although we have successful stories, few negatives are posted. The pursuit for feeling successful and showing off on social media overshadows the daily failures.

Whenever losses strike, it is the very point at which we differentiate real farmers and "wannabe" farmers.
A real farmer will endure the risks, learn from them, pick up pieces and replan while staying focused on the goal. "Wannabe" farmer will abandon farming altogether.

Many farmers are quiet on the problems they face in farming. Success stories are good. But let us also show the newcomers what awaits them.

All crops and livestocks have their challenges. However, I wont bore you with details per crop and livestock. Let me shed light on a few selected ones. If I don't mention what you want to farm, don't think you are safe. Shock still awaits you. So come prepared.

Poultry Farming:
This is an interesting option. I know of someone who reared 2000 broilers, lost up to 1500 heads in a butch of 2000. Reared 500 layers but wasn't keen. At 7 months, only 126 were laying!! Remember, feeds for layers are the most expensive. A mere change in feeding program can cost you. Farmers buy day old chicks and by day 5, they have zero. All Dead!
One sick chicken in a flock can wipe out everything. You will get stuck with mature dying chickens with no buyer.

Maize Farming :

Here, timing is good if you need to fetch good profits. Seed companies selling fake seeds are the first frustration. You will plant seeds that wont germinate. If they do, they underperform. The bags mentioned as yield in those packages are a myth. They don't yield. A friend planted maize in 2019 with good timing. He could count the maize that germinated! He slashed everything and planted pumpkins!
If you get credible seeds, fake fertilizers await you. He bought 8 bags of NPK. After applying, one month later over 50% was still solid! Sand!!

Some unscrupulous sellers mix fertilizers with sand and repackage.
Some fertilizers starts dissolving into liquid few hours after you open. You store the opened sack only to find everything liquid and gone! You cant use that. It's your bill.

If you get good seeds and fertilizers, striga w**d strikes!! Striga w**d is a menace in maize farming. It can reduce your yield up to 80% if it attacks the whole farm.

Tomatoes Farming:

Don't be fooled by the red pictures of bumper harvests. Tomatoes can give you stroke.
This is a crop that is highly prone to various attacks. Viral, fungal and bacterial diseases that once they enter, no exiting. You will spend weeks spraying chemicals. Losses will be on your list. Any slight mistake ruins your harvest. Diseases attack at fruiting. This is also one crop that floods the market and price per kg can reduce by 80% in a flash. You will be stuck with crates upon crates of your bumper harvest and no interested buyer.

Cattle Farming

This is one area that is full of losses. Cattle feeding is one part that you will always complain about. Cows are gluttons. Some though high milk producers, they feed 24/7. Feeding machines. Labour intensive. You may Always get into issues with employees
Milk prices only favour milk processing companies. Farmers are just a conveyor belt in the grant scheme. You will also pour milk for lack of market due to excess supply. Interesting? Wait.
The milk cows are also very vulnerable to diseases. You need a standby vet on call. That thing can show signs of sickness in the evening and by morning its dead!
Then comes delivery complications. Most overfeed and the calf overgrows in the womb. Normal delivery becomes hard.

Floods can wreck havoc in your farm. You will get to the field and find all your precious plants that were glowing few hours ago swept away. Some find this and die of stroke or commit su***de. Water logging is also a serious issue. Increases soil acidity, reduce fertility.

Crops get stunted. Drainage is inevitable in farming. Ensure your farm has enough drainage if you are located in areas receiving heavy rains.
Live stock structures in such heavy rain areas need to be well built. Storms can kill your livestock. Check wind direction when constructing.
If you are keen on livestock, be keen on worms. Worms kill and cause stunted growth. Pigs, goats, chicken and cattle are the most vulnerable to worms. Most worms have a secondary parasite that is more lethal than the worm itself.

Market and Flooding :

Market for farm produce is a challenge to many farmers. This can send you parking on your first trial. Many farmers complain of absence of markets after harvesting. Understand your market. If you are not sure of the market don't farm. Market your produce. Farming is an investment like any formal business. Start marketing your produce even before you see it. Get contacts. Be careful with brokers. They are barriers to accessing markets but are also the key to getting your trusted customers. Don't harvest if you don't want brokers.

While using any chemicals be careful. A neighbour didn't read and follow instructions while spraying army worms on maize. He lost 4 acres. Everything burnt down. If you are spraying foliar, be keen. Too much of it burns the leaves. Some crops like melons require specific sprays.

Dry your produce well and use recommended preservatives if storing for long. Weevils are a menace in cereals. You can lose them 100%.

A real farmer must develop thick skin.
Many examples are out there of farmers encountering 100% losses or more.
Farming is not for the fainthearted get rich quick "wannabes".

15/05/2023

NITROGEN NUTRIENT SUPPLY

Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient that is essential for plant growth and development and is a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other vital compounds. Plants typically absorb nitrogen in the form of ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3-) ions, which are released from nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, urea, and ammonium sulphate, and organic sources such as crop residues and manures. Choosing the type, rate, and timing of nitrogen fertilizers depend on various factors such as soil nitrogen content, pH, and crop nutrition needs, which are typically advised in soil testing recommendations.

Grow more with less

03/05/2023

Bambara nut is a profitable grain legume that requires very little agronomical care from its planting. Its a wholesome food and many families around the world have attached value addition to it by making snacks and beverages from its various varieties.

21/08/2020

Bambara nut milk is highly nutritious, and has been termed a complete food. Research shows It's seed consist of 49%–63.5% carbohydrate, 15%–25% protein, 4.5%–7.4% fat, 5.2%–6.4% fiber, 3.2%–4.4% ash and 2% mineral compared to whole fresh cow milk 88% moisture, 4.8% carbohydrate, 3.2% proteins, 3.4% fat, 0.7% ash, and 0.01% cholesterol.

30/06/2020

An ongoing harvest of Cream/Black eye type of Bambara nut. Large Kennel and a good yielder. This farmer planted it with zero farm inputs on a 0.25 acres of land is likely to harvest between 300-350 kgs of shelled and already processed nuts. Right now he's drying them for threshing as he harvests more.

08/06/2020

Bioversity International: research for development in agricultural and tree biodiversity.
Roasted Bambara groundnut: an emerging income source for women in Mali

CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition & Health | Mali | neglected & underutilized species (NUS) | Bambara groundnut | Gennifer Meldrum | gender | CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture & Food Security (CCAFS)
On the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, that takes place on 15 October, researchers give us insight into how Bambara groundnut is emerging as an income source for women in Mali.

Rural women are integrally connected to all aspects of local biodiversity – as users, custodians and agents of change. On the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, Bioversity International researchers Charlie Mbosso and Gennifer Meldrum give us insight into how Bambara groundnut is emerging as an income source for women in Mali.

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc), a native and underutilized crop, is the third most important legume in Mali. Compared to peanut and cowpea, Bambara groundnut is more resistant to drought and pests and diseases, is better adapted to poor soils and can help secure production under climate change. The crop is nutritious and has proven to be an inexpensive source of good quality protein to poorly-resourced farmers in semi-arid areas, such as Mali. Bambara groundnut is often cultivated by women subsistence farmers who sell the roasted or boiled seeds in local markets.

Earlier this spring, value chain analyses of Bambara groundnut in Sikasso and Segou regions of Mali were carried out with a special emphasis on gender and nutrition. Data was collected in eight villages through focus group discussions and individual surveys led by Bioversity International’s consulting market and gender specialist Charlie Mbosso in collaboration with Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER). Results indicated that roasted Bambara groundnut has potential as an emerging market for women, yet women need encouragement and support for the promotion of the crop.

The household survey results revealed that, at household level, there are more men involved in Bambara groundnut production while women are more involved in the legume's processing and commercialization. This gendered engagement is related to socio-cultural factors, as specific tasks are traditionally performed by men or women and men have more control over farmlands and household income. Men make decisions on what to grow on family plots and have more access to private plots where they can control what to grow and sell. Fewer women have access to private plots so they are mainly engaged in supporting Bambara groundnut cultivation on family plots.

Women were more fully integrated in the processing and sale of roasted Bambara groundnut which aligns with their traditional role as processors and requires relatively little skill and capital. The sale of roasted Bambara groundnut is confined to nearby markets and small-scale traders and the product is sold at very low prices in small quantities, which make the returns less attractive to men. Due to the ‘snack’ nature of the product (families tend to enjoy it as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack), the product is sold at very low prices and in small quantities, which make the returns less attractive to men who rely on returns from Bambara groundnut grains. In addition, results revealed that the roasted product originates from women’s own production and not from grains that are sold in the markets. This way they have easy access to input required for processing such as a pot, water, firewood, salt and something to dry the finished product on.

Poor quality of transformed products due to women's lack of knowledge of appropriate processing and storage techniques and lack of processing equipment were found to be the main constraints to women. In addition, marketers' poor sales skills sometimes led to the failure to sell the transformed products.

Linking producers to local processors could help to extend the marketing area. However, in order to achieve this, both the producers and processors would require training on Bambara groundnut processing techniques since the overall local consumer demand for this product is high. Bambara groundnut commercialization among local women could be encouraged through the creation and consolidation of groups in order to foster a strong network and then increase quantities and reinforce marketing skills through group sales.

04/01/2020

03/01/2020

Bambara Nuts

Here is a great tasting high protein nut that is similar to peanuts but even better. Contains lots of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that are wonderful for healing arthritis, anemia, and other inflammatory diseases. And it's full of protein and can be made into a wonderful probiotic drink and a tasty high protein flour. Bambara Nuts are easy to digest, drought tolerant, easy to grow, and full of great nutrition.

Easy to Grow— They like full sun and need very little water and ready to harvest in 4 months. And they grow all year round... making it possible to have multiple harvests of Bambara Nuts yearly.

Makes a Great Tasting Snack - Roasted and salted this ground nut is delicious and even better than peanuts.

Makes a Great High Protein Flour - Bambara Nuts can be steamed and ground into a very nutritive flour which is much better than wheat flour... and it's totally gluten-free. This flour can be used as a substitute for wheat and contains more protein than wheat flour... and also makes a great veggie milk.. and snacks. And makes wonderful biscuits and bread with a great texture similar to wheat.

A Complete Food - Bambara Nuts are regarded as a complete food containing all nutrients the body needs.

Prevents Malnutrition - Bambara Nuts contain all the nutrients that body needs to prevent malnutrition.

Lots of Energy - Bambara Nuts contain lots of good carbs for great energy so you can get things done.

Contains - Bambara Nuts contain protein, carbs, fat, fiber, minerals, vitamins, potassium for cardiovascular health, magnesium for enzyme production, iron and copper for anemia, calcium and phosphorous for strong bones, selenium for our immune system,

Lots of Antioxidants - Bambara Nuts contain lots of antioxidants which help to prevent disease in general. And also helps to heal and prevent DNA damage.

Lowers Cholesterol - Bambara Nuts also help to lower cholesterol and thus help to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.

Lots of Protein - Bambara Nuts also contain lots of protein 18% protein which is great for a legume. Also contains the protein lysine which is not found in many plant sources. Contains leucine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, valine, and threonine. Similar to soybeans but are much easier to digest.

Helps with Insomnia - Bambara Nuts also contain a good amount of magnesium which helps with insomnia.

Prevents Stomach Cancer - Bambara Nuts also help to prevent stomach cancer with all the antioxidants and probiotics plus the anti-inflammatory qualities.

Anti-Inflammatory - Bambara Nuts also are good anti-inflammatory food to help with inflammation, arthritis, joint pain, swelling, and redness and pain in general. And because inflammation is the first step towards disease... Bambara Nuts also helps to prevent disease in general.

Great for the Gut - Because Bambara Nuts are anti-inflammatory and full of probiotics... so they are super important for healing Diverticulitis, IBS, IBD, and Crohn's disease.

High in Probiotics - Beverages and foods made from Bambara Nuts like making soy milk is high in probiotics and helps to maintain and grow a good complement of good bacteria in our gut... and this is very important for great health.

Prevent Anemia - Bambara Nuts contain a good amount of iron and copper which helps to prevent anemia.

Prevents Osteoporosis - Bambara Nuts prevent osteoporosis because they contain lots of calcium and phosphorus for strong bones.

Cooking - Bambara Nuts can be used in soups, stews, in casseroles, anywhere you would use beans. And it can be made into a drink, made into super tasty roasted snacks, they can be boiled, used as a flour for high protein rolls, bread, biscuits, cakes, and desserts. Can also be made into a pudding which is very tasty.

Drought Resistant Crop - Bambara Nuts are not common in the Africa. And Bambara Nuts could be grown in other areas of the world because of global warming.

New Crop for the World's Hungry People - Here is a great business opportunity to spread the word about Bambara Nuts... and start growing Bambara Nuts and selling the products and helping people and making a good living.

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03/01/2020

The Bambara nut is an African indigenous crop. It is the third-most-important grain legume (i.e. pulse) in the African lowland tropics after the peanut (Arachis hypogaea, commonly referred to as the groundnut) and the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). They are an especially important traditional food among the Luhya. A number of decades ago, (tsimbande) were considered important food during droughts and famine. They have a high ceremonial value and are prepared for people to eat during funerals and naming and bridewealth ceremonies. The seeds are mainly produced for home consumption but sometimes women sell tsimbande to individuals or in the informal markets of the area.

In Kenya, the Bambara groundnut is considered an orphan crop. Its production in Kenya, like that of many other traditional crops, has been declining for the past few decades. Despite the fact that tsimbande is still considered a delicacy in the Luhya community, current levels of production in other communities are low and decreasing. Tsimbande is at risk for a number of reasons: It is difficult to harvest, cooking the dried nuts takes a long time compared to other nuts (thereby requiring more fuel and water to process), and it is hard to mill due to its fibrous shells. Additionally, it is usually given less value and priority in land allocation because it is grown by women.