Bambara Breeding Initiative (BBI)
A Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) plant after harvest. Photo: Festo Massawe.
BBI OBJECTIVES
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is an African species which has been cultivated across the continent for centuries in low input agricultural settings. Bambara groundnut is part of the cultural and culinary heritage of African countries, and its taste is widely appreciated. It is also grown in Southeast Asia.
Since Bambara groundnut is both highly tolerant of drought and high temperatures and its grain is very nutritious, this species provides very good opportunities for climate change adaptation (1). ​​
Seed diversity in different Bambara groundnut accessions. Photo: Kuldeep Tripathi.
​The primary constraint to the wider adoption of this crop is its low productivity. While it has been reported to yield around 4,000 kg/ha under research station conditions, the yields achieved by farmers operating in marginal environments are typically much lower. Additional limitations include prolonged cooking time, susceptibility to pests and diseases, and sensitivity to photoperiod.
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KT’s Bambara Breeding Iniative (BBI) was established in 2023 to address key constraints for this crop: low productivity, long cooking time, susceptibility to fungal diseases and susceptibility to the weed Alectra vogelii.
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(1) Mayes S et al., 2019. Bambara groundnut: an exemplar underutilised legume for resilience under climate change. Planta 250: 803-820.
PROJECT LOCATIONS