Introduction: Vegetable soybean has almost double
the protein and six times the energy content of green peas, India's most
commonly consumed fresh legume. Green vegetable soybean seed has up to 13%
protein on a fresh weight basis and high levels of healthy monounsaturated
fatty acids, and vitamins C and E; it is also one of the few natural sources of
anti-cancer isoflavones. Cooked vegetable soybean has the highest net protein
utilization value (NPU; the ratio of amino acid converted to proteins) among
all soy products, and when combined with rice, supplies complete protein to the
diet. Vegetable soybean has almost
double the protein and six times the energy content of green peas; India's most
commonly consumed fresh legume, with 60% more calcium and twice the phosphorus
and potassium levels.
Cooking
and Alternatives: Vegetable soybean is versatile in the
ways it can be consumed. It can be eaten fresh directly from the pod, or frozen
or canned and used later. The diverse potential for uses of vegetable soybean
is perhaps under-explored. Beyond the traditional uses in Japan as a snack, or
in China as a stir fry component, there could be production of edamame tofu,
candied edamame, or incorporation of edamame in more diverse recipes. Due to
its lower cell density, vegetable soybean needs less time to cook than its
grain counterpart. Cooking vegetable soybean has the benefit of doubling the
iron bio-availability.
Market:
Vegetable soybeans grown in India would ideally be used as a
local fresh crop for domestic consumption so that the Indian population gets
the nutritional benefits. As a crop suited to hand-harvest in small production
areas, it would be suited to sustenance or smallholder farms and local markets.
Vegetable soybean has been introduced to rural farmers across developing Africa
with positive results. In Zambia, farmers were interested in utilizing
vegetable soybean seeds provided in nutrition kits. In Sudan, vegetable soybean
seeds distributed to 2,000 households have been proliferated and passed on. In
Tanzania, farmers given seeds liked the crop and its easy utilization. And in
Mauritius, vegetable soybean is growing in popularity, with fresh green pods
selling for a decent price of about 100 Rs/kg, helping many poor farmers to
earn an income. This bodes well for small farmers in India either looking to
feed a family or earn an income.
Should
it catch on as popular in the Indian diet, among other staple legumes,
vegetable soybean could rise quickly in demand. If one assumes a5 kg
consumption per capita per year in only 20% of the Indian population, it would
create a demand of over one million tons of vegetable soybean (Ali).
Future
Prospects: Vegetable soybean could also become an
export cash crop to Japan or, increasingly, the U.S. and Europe (Keatinge et.
al. 2011). Promotion in different areas of Indian culture, then, would be
advantageous for farmers in creating more demand for the crop. Weeds can pose
another problem, especially during the rainy season. Pre-emergence herbicide
and weeding by hand together are the presently recommended technique to control
weeds. In fact, chemical use is suggested for most disease, pest and weed
treatment. Further research is needed to develop resistant varieties that do
not have poor eating quality.
Referance:
Keatinge,
J. D. H.,, W.J. Easdown, R.Y. Yang, M.L. Chadha, S. Shanmugasundaram. 2011.
Overcoming Chronic Malnutrition in a Future Warming World.
Shurtleff W, Aoyagi A. 2010. History of Soybeans and
Soyfoods in South Asia/Indian Subcontinent: 1656-2010. Soyinfo Center.
Uttarakhand,
India. Taiwan: AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, 2008. Print. Chadha, M. L.,
M. O. Oluoch. 2004. Vegetable soybean research and development in Africa. In:
International Vegetable Soybean Conference. Brazil.
Article
compiled by
Pravin
B. Berad (Ph.D.
Scholar)
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
(M.S.)
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