Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.): For Food/Feed/Cover Crop

In west Africa, particularly in Senegal, cowpea leaf is among the African indigenous vegetables that have been recommended for possible alleviation of food and nutrition insecurity. This is extremely important where leafy green vegetables are hard to come by especially during the rainy season where all resources (labor, land etc.) are allocated to row-crops. According to research findings from India, mung bean leaves and immature seed pod are rich in micronutrients, including iron and vitamin A where deficiencies are prevalent in Sub-Sahara Africa (include Senegal). Cultivation of cowpea is not common in the northern part of Senegal (St. Louis) where we have currently introduced mung bean. Among the 10 local communities and schools where we introduced mung bean in 2019, at least seven communities and schools are currently growing and consuming mung bean. While the communities are happy with the mung bean seed, they have been asking if they can consume the mung bean leaves. Therefore, we want to investigate the contribution of mung bean leaves to food and nutrition security.