Jack Bean
In
Nepal
Authoritative information regarding the Jack Bean's description, growing conditions, sustainability & agronomic issues, and economic benefits.
Jackbean in Nepal
Product Description
The Jackbean ( Canavalia ensiformis) is quite large in size within the Legume family (Tropical Legumes, 1979). The pods that the Jackbean creates can grow to be 30 cm long as well as 3 ½ cm wide (Tropical Legumes, 1979). While growing, the Jackbean plant has a shrubby look to it and has the ability to grown about 1 m tall (Tropical Legumes, 1979). However, there does exist climbing types of Jackbeans (Tropical Legumes, 1979), but there is very limited available knowledge on these types.
The Jackbean can be eaten for its pods, which are similar to eating a green vegetable, or for its seeds, which are used specifically for protein intake (Tropical Legumes, 1979). With a growing population of vegetarians in developed countries, alternative protein options are growing, and the Jackbean could be a part of that growth. However, that market is competitive, and the Jackbean would need to have other favourable qualities to compete. Furthermore, aside from human consumption, the Jackbean can be used for other purposes such as green manure, animal feed, or assisting the growth of other plants (Tropical Legumes, 1979).
Growing Conditions of Product
The Jackbean is extremely adaptable and therefore the growing conditions it requires can be quite diverse (Tropical Legumes, 1979). The variety of growing conditions include, “tropical lowlands with depleted soils to areas with unpredictable climate or varying soil types, high altitudes, and [areas with] pest infestation” (Tropical Legumes, 1979). Ultimately, the diverse requirements to grow the Jackbean are an exceptional basis for Nepal to consider growing it in their hillside regions. The Jackbean’s ability to grow in a variety of climates is the most promising characteristic of the bean.
Sustainability and Agronomic Issues
Though the Jackbean has had great success in regards to adaptability, “insect, fungus, and bacterial and viral infestations have been recorded, [though] they do not seriously reduce the plant vigor or yields. A stem borer and a fungal root disease sometimes cause more serious losses…”(Tropical Legumes, 1979). These infestations must be taken into consideration and the potential hillside location Nepal may use to plant the Jackbean must be examined. However, the fact that most infestations do not impact the Jackbean severely is very beneficial for a potential product that Nepal could produce.
As well, the bean within the pod of the Jackbean is toxic and therefore must be boiled several times before it is consumed (Tropical Legumes, 1979). Unfortunately, the toxicity of the bean lowers its export potential. As well, it would require Nepalese farmers to attain large amounts of water for detoxifying the beans when water is not necessarily an easily attainable resource.
Economic Benefits to Nepal
Economically, producing the Jackbean alone would not create many benefits. However, potential economic benefits would arise if either Nepal was able to detoxify the bean before export. Furthermore, since the Jackbean can be used as a crop to aid in the production of other crops by acting as a cover, Nepal could gain benefits by producing the Jackbean alongside other crops (Tropical Legumes, 1979).
References
1. Pulses, Jackbean and Swordbean. (1979). In Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future (pp. 54-58). Washington D.C: National Academy of Sciences.
Product Description
The Jackbean ( Canavalia ensiformis) is quite large in size within the Legume family (Tropical Legumes, 1979). The pods that the Jackbean creates can grow to be 30 cm long as well as 3 ½ cm wide (Tropical Legumes, 1979). While growing, the Jackbean plant has a shrubby look to it and has the ability to grown about 1 m tall (Tropical Legumes, 1979). However, there does exist climbing types of Jackbeans (Tropical Legumes, 1979), but there is very limited available knowledge on these types.
The Jackbean can be eaten for its pods, which are similar to eating a green vegetable, or for its seeds, which are used specifically for protein intake (Tropical Legumes, 1979). With a growing population of vegetarians in developed countries, alternative protein options are growing, and the Jackbean could be a part of that growth. However, that market is competitive, and the Jackbean would need to have other favourable qualities to compete. Furthermore, aside from human consumption, the Jackbean can be used for other purposes such as green manure, animal feed, or assisting the growth of other plants (Tropical Legumes, 1979).
Growing Conditions of Product
The Jackbean is extremely adaptable and therefore the growing conditions it requires can be quite diverse (Tropical Legumes, 1979). The variety of growing conditions include, “tropical lowlands with depleted soils to areas with unpredictable climate or varying soil types, high altitudes, and [areas with] pest infestation” (Tropical Legumes, 1979). Ultimately, the diverse requirements to grow the Jackbean are an exceptional basis for Nepal to consider growing it in their hillside regions. The Jackbean’s ability to grow in a variety of climates is the most promising characteristic of the bean.
Sustainability and Agronomic Issues
Though the Jackbean has had great success in regards to adaptability, “insect, fungus, and bacterial and viral infestations have been recorded, [though] they do not seriously reduce the plant vigor or yields. A stem borer and a fungal root disease sometimes cause more serious losses…”(Tropical Legumes, 1979). These infestations must be taken into consideration and the potential hillside location Nepal may use to plant the Jackbean must be examined. However, the fact that most infestations do not impact the Jackbean severely is very beneficial for a potential product that Nepal could produce.
As well, the bean within the pod of the Jackbean is toxic and therefore must be boiled several times before it is consumed (Tropical Legumes, 1979). Unfortunately, the toxicity of the bean lowers its export potential. As well, it would require Nepalese farmers to attain large amounts of water for detoxifying the beans when water is not necessarily an easily attainable resource.
Economic Benefits to Nepal
Economically, producing the Jackbean alone would not create many benefits. However, potential economic benefits would arise if either Nepal was able to detoxify the bean before export. Furthermore, since the Jackbean can be used as a crop to aid in the production of other crops by acting as a cover, Nepal could gain benefits by producing the Jackbean alongside other crops (Tropical Legumes, 1979).
References
1. Pulses, Jackbean and Swordbean. (1979). In Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future (pp. 54-58). Washington D.C: National Academy of Sciences.