Rice Bean- A Potential Fodder Crop for Lean Period

Rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi and Ohashi] is an under exploited pulse crop having great potential for improvement as grain and fodder types. It requires more testing throughout the tropics, because of its tolerance to high temperature and humidity, short crop cycle, resistance to diseases and pests, nutritious seeds and multiple uses. Research priorities include development of quick maturing, day neutral, high yielding pulse and fodder type cultivars resistant to nematodes. Lack of awareness on potential nutritionally and economic use value of ricebean, improved varieties, less attention in improving the grain quality and adaptation are observed as barriers to its large demand and production. Hence, immediate attention for its conservation and utilization is critical to prevent the loss of this multipurpose crop. This book deals with the general description of rice bean and crop improvement work done in India and abroad. The improvement of this high protein crops with multi-purpose uses by interdisciplinary research will not only develop crops for smallholders but will also enable these to be established more widely in agricultural systems.