The Ricebean Network
FOSRIN is a 3 year project funded under the EC's INCO programme to to popularise the under-utilised crop ricebean (Vigna umbellata). Ricebean is a grain legume grown in hill areas of Nepal and northern India by some of the most resource-poor farmers, and is often grown as an intercrop with maize. The project involves eight partners - universities, research organisations and NGOs in Europe and Asia, and has adopted a client-oriented approach, working closely with farmers and other stakeholders.
We believe that ricebean has great potential to improve livelihoods, diet and nutrition for these farners, and that the use of simple innovations will encourage farmers to cultivate it much more widely.
We welcome discussion and contributions from other groups and individuals with an interest in this crop, or in other grain legumes. Please contact us if you wish to contribute to this.
Project outline
The project will study several aspects of the cultivation of this crop:
- Marketing (supply chain and demand)
- Characterisation
- Nutrition and health