ntroduction
Jugo, njugo, bambara or round beans are widespread in Africa and
have various nameseach language and dialect has its own variation.
In the literature the name bambara groundnut is commonly used.
The beans are related to cowpeas and botanically known as
Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc. There are two botanical varieties
namely V. subterranea var. spontanea which includes the wild
varieties and V. subterranea var. subterranea which includes the
cultivated varieties.
Although it produces a nutritious food and is cultivated throughout
Africa the bambara remains one of the crops most neglected by
science. Yet empirical evidence and fragmentary research results
suggest that it is a crop with great potential.
The bambara groundnut has become less important in many parts
of Africa because of the expansion of groundnut production. In
recent years there has, however, been renewed interest in the crop
for cultivation in the arid savannah zones. Bambara is a popular
crop because of its resistance to drought and the ability to produce
a reasonable crop when grown on poor soils.