The Status of Kersting's Groundnut (Macrotyloma Geocarpum [Harms] Marechal and Baudet)

Abstract

Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum) is a rare and underexploited leguminous crop cultivated in parts of West Africa, which now faces extinction. A study was conducted in northern Ghana, which falls within the Guinea Savannah ecological zone, to establish the status of the crop, its production constraints and prospects for its future development or improvement. Sixteen types of Kersting's groundnut were collected which could be distinguished by three seed colours. It is predominantly grown on a small scale (0.1–0.5 acre) as a sole crop, but is often intercropped with other food crops. Pest and disease are not a significant constraint in the cultivation of Kersting's groundnut. Over-tasked farmers harvest it late when the soil has hardened, and this has been the main constraint to its large-scale production. Variation in seed size exists and could be used for crop improvement.