Bambara groundnut is an important crop for poorer populations in Africa as a source of protein. It develops a taproot and nitrogen-fixing nodules. The seeds contain 14-24% protein and 60% carbohydrates and can be used as a porridge or coffee substitute. It grows best in bright sunshine with temperatures of 500-600 mm of rainfall annually in well-drained, nutrient-poor soil with a pH of 5.0-6.5. However, it is susceptible to pests like leaf spot, root-knot nematodes, and viruses, which farmers try to control through trap cropping and burying crop residue.

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Are you ready for Bambara groundnut?
Plant description
The essential parts are the flowers and pods.
Develops a well taproot with many profuse geotropic short lateral roots that reach 20 cm
length
The roots form nodules from N fixation
Economic Importance
The seed contains 14-24% protein and 60% carbohydrate
Seeds can be used as coffee substitute
The protein has higher methionine than other grain legumes
Mature seeds are ground to form porridge
It is importance to poorer people who cannot afford expensive animal protein
Young whole pods can be washed and boiled and used in soups
Ripe seeds can be boiled and used as relish with sadza
The leaves maybe used as livestock feed and are eaten readily by cattle and game
Climate and soil requirement
For best growth, Bambara needs bright sunshine, high temperature and frequent rain.
It usually takes 7 to 15 days under favourable temperature for Bambara to grow.
Bambara groundnuts needs moderate rainfall from sowing until flowering.
Bambara can be produced in an area that receives 500-600 mm per annum.
It grows well on well-drained soil.
It can also grow well on poor soil that is low in nutrients.
It requires a soil ph. of 5.0 to 6.5
Optimum soil depth is between 50 cm and 100 cm.
Pest and diseases
It is attacked by leaf spot
Root-knot nematodes
Peanut clump virus (PCV)
Leafhoppers
Aphids
Termites

2. Cultural practices such as trap cropping with pearl millet and escape cropping are followed
to reduce the incidence of the PCV diseases.
Deep burial of crop residue assists in controlling certain diseases by placing the organism
contained in the residue at a depth where there is an oxygen deficiency.
Author;​ Wallace Mukoka