What is Fenugreek?
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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is an herbaceous plant grown in North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. A legume, is it drought tolerant, fixes nitrogen, can act as a overcrop, and can grow in a variety of climates. Many of these benefits make fenugreek a conservation agriculture technique. Fenugreek leaves and seeds also have many flavour and nutrition properties that make it a staple in many traditional recipes and medicines.
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Nutritional Properties of
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Different nutritional comments attribute to the health benefits of fenugreek. Some important nutritional information of fenugreek seeds is given:
High protein: 250-386 g/kg [1] High lysine: 6.7 g/ 16 g Nitrogen [2] High fiber: 32% in-soluble, 13% soluble [1] High Polyphenols [3] Significant Calcium, Potassium, Zinc, & Iron [3] |
Traditional Medicinal Uses |
A variety of bio-active compounds make fenugreek seeds nutritious, as well as flavourful. Some of the most important functional aspects of fenugreek seeds include: high levels of galactomannans, saponins, soluble and insoluble starches, and specific amino acid properties [4]. Trigonella f.'s anti-inflammatory uses, antioxidant potential, and its ability to lower cholesterol and regulate insulin levels make it a widely used traditional medicine for blood sugar regulation in diabetics, as well as breast milk stimulation in new mothers [5].
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Nepalese Growing Conditions |
Environment
Though currently a marginal crop in Nepal, fenugreek can be grown on diverse land types. From October-December it is grown in flats southern Terai, August-November in mid-hill regions, and March-May on northern hillsides [6]. Though it is a hillside crop, produced by many subsistence farmers, commercial production is limited to urban and semi-urban areas due to proximity to market [6]. Resistant to climatic stress, Trigonella f. is grown in arid regions with moderate to low rainfall, with the possibility of light irrigation during germination and flowering [6]. It is also tolerant to frost, signifying it can be successfully grown in mountainous regions that reach freezing temperatures [7] Soil Fenugreek is best planted in soil that is: loose, has good drainage, and a pH of 6-7 [6]. For the crop yield a fertilizer mix of: 50 kg/HA nitrogen, 30 kg/ HA phosphorus, and 20 kg/ HA potassium is recommended, with a layer of 10 kg/ Ha of organic manure [6]. Since fenugreek is a legume, inoculating seeds with a rhizobium culture will also increase yields, and consequently increase fixed soil nitrogen during crop rotation [8]. Additionally, as fenugreek propagates in loose soil, the crop will help reduce nutrient leaching, water loss, and soil erosion due to its root and charge holding the soil in place [6]. Cultivation Germination of fenugreek seeds can take 7-10 days, therefore transplanting (growing seedlings in a controlled way before planting) may be a viable option for drier areas to improve growth success [6]. The leaves can be quickly cultivated 40-60 days after planting, after which they can be harvested every 25 days [6]. Additionally, the seed crop matures in 3-4 months and yields 300-400 kg of seeds per acre [6]. |
Labour Requirements |
Trigonella f. seeds do not shatter, meaning the seeds are not ejected from the plant when fully grown [9]. Not shattering will improve yield, however will result in more labour for seed cultivating, threshing, drying, and grinding [9]. Notably, conservation agriculture practices in Nepal found labour to be relatively equally distributed between men and women with approximately 45% and 55% done respectively [10].
An opportunity exists for a valuable trade-off between increased labour and benefits, as growing this legume will add fixed nitrogen to the soil to be used by future crops, limit soil erosion, produce a nutritious leafy green, increase the adoption rate of seed separation techniques to ensure healthy future crops. |
Challenges to Subsistence
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The highest production rates of fenugreek are in Western and mid-Western Nepal. Paradoxically, these are the regions with lowest sales and productivity [6]. As the largest producers of the country, Nepalese hillside farmers have an opportunity to substantially benefit from fenugreek seed exportation. Outlined are some limitations for subsistence farmers:
Limited Access to Fertilizer Many Nepalese farmers simply use organic manure, or nitrogen only fertilizers [6]. However, as stated previously a mix of organic manure and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer is ideal. To overcome fertilizer needs if unavailable, fenugreek can be intercropped with other organic nitrogen and phosphorus fixing plants, such as pigeon pea, to improve soil nutrition. As well, micro-dosing fertilizer during germination and seed production is a strategy to overcome large fertilizer usage. Rhizobia Inoculant Unavailability A legume, fenugreek needs the appropriate soil rhizobia (a symbiotic bacteria that inhabits legume nodules) to fix appropriately fix nitrogen [8]. Participatory agronomy may be a solution to assess rhizobia strains in soil. A potential local business opportunity may be for farmers to conserve and propagate strains in their own soils, with the end goal of selling to other farmers as an inoculant for the appropriate seeds. Lack of Transport to Market The highest producing fenugreek farmers do not sell their product, as they do not have access to market [6]. Lack of transportation could be another potential local business opportunity, as locals with an animal or motor vehicle could offer fenugreek seed pick up for a small fee. As well, if the fenugreek market rises, Nepalese transportation service companies may be implemented for collecting seed. Required Labour Hand pounding would greatly increase the labour needed for this product, and may be a key constraint if the proper tools are unavailable. Seed processing mills or animals could be a key solution to this issue. Grinding the seeds in Nepal will make the product cheaper and easier for transport, as less volume will be consumed per kilogram. |
Future Steps |
Further evaluation of fenugreek seeds for export can involve several aspects. Nutritional and chemical analysis may be done in order to identify any potential health properties that can be officially labeled on supplements. If possible, this may help fenugreek be used as a direct pharmaceutical instead of natural health supplement, thus increasing its value.
Research should also be conducted on the ecological effects of growing fenugreek on a mass scale. Though it is currently widely grown, it is still a marginal crop. Therefore consequences on biodiversity and the environment must be further researched. Other potential areas to further study may include storage conditions for the harvested seeds, particularly on areas of high humidity and heavy rainfall, as well as in methods to reduce processing labour as previously mentioned. |
Export Potential |
Fenugreek seed is an extremely viable product for Nepal to export around the world: it has low water activity, has a low volume to mass ratio, and is a high value product . Consumers of not only spices, but natural health products are continually looking for new ideas, benefits, and flavours [11].
No foreign aid strategies were suggested for this product, apart for some participatory engineering and lab work for identifying rhizobia strains and potential nutritional aspects. Cropping and harvesting of fenugreek however, can itself be maintained and sustained by local farmers with little to no new technology. Being readily grown by a large portion of subsistence farmers, and having a legitimate potential market in spice, flour, and natural herbal supplement markets, Nepalese fenugreek seeds have vast potential to be a successful international product. |
References
1. Feyzi, S., Varidi, M., Zare, F., & Varidi, M. (2015). Fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum graecum ) seed protein isolate: extraction optimization, amino acid composition, thermo and functional properties. Journal Of The Science Of Food And Agriculture, 95(15), 3165-3176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7056
2. Hooda, S., & Jood, S. (2004). Nutritional Evaluation of Wheat?Fenugreek Blends for Product Making. Plant Foods For Human Nutrition, 59(4), 149-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11130-004-0024-3
3. Shakuntala, S., Pura Naik, J., Jeyarani, T., Madhava Naidu, M., & Srinivas, P. (2011). Characterisation of germinated fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed fractions. International Journal Of Food Science & Technology, 46(11), 2337-2343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2011.02754.x
4. Madar, Z., & Stark, A. (2002). New legume sources as therapeutic agents. BJN, 88(S3), 287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/bjn2002719
5. Zentek, J., Gärtner, S., Tedin, L., Männer, K., Mader, A., & Vahjen, W. (2012). Fenugreek seed affects intestinal microbiota and immunological variables in piglets after weaning. British Journal Of Nutrition, 109(05), 859-866. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s000711451200219x
6. Bhatta, G., Subedi, M., & Bhattarai, D. (2014). Fenugreek: Review of Commercial Opportunities For A Climate Risk Resilient Vegetable Crop In Nepal. American Journal Of Social Issues For Hummanity, 2276(6928), 155-161.
7. Australian Agronomy Conference 2006. (2006). Fenugreek has a role in south-eastern Australian farming systems. Melbourne. Retrieved from http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2006/concurrent/systems/4527_mccormickkm.htm
8.Singh, B., Kaur, R., & Singh, K. (2008). Characterization of Rhizobium strain isolated from the roots of Trigonella foenumgraecum (fenugreek). African Journal Of Biotechnology, 7(20), 3671-3676.
9. Ladizinsky, G. (1979). Seed dispersal in relation to the domestication of Middle East Legumes. Econ Bot, 33(3), 284-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf02858256
10. Halbrendt, J., Paudel, B., & Chan, C. (2015). Gendered implications of introducing conservation agriculture (CA): a case study in the hill region of Nepal. Conservation Agriculture In Subsistence Farming. Case Studies From South Asia And Beyond, 239-257.
11. Euromonitor International. (2014). Vitamins and Dietary Supplements in Canada. Passport. Retrieved from http://file:///C:/Users/lib_level/Downloads/Vitamins_and_Dietary_Supplements_in_Canada.pdf