Top Bambara Beans Producing Countries

Bambara beans (Vigna subterranea), also known as Bambara groundnuts, are a resilient legume native to sub-Saharan Africa, where they have been cultivated for centuries. The top producers of Bambara beans today are Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, with significant cultivation also occurring in Ghana, Cameroon, and Tanzania. Historically, Bambara beans have played a crucial role in African agriculture due to their ability to thrive in poor soils and withstand drought, making them a vital food security crop in arid and semi-arid regions. Archaeological evidence suggests that Bambara beans were domesticated in West Africa, particularly in the region covering present-day Mali and Burkina Faso, before spreading across the continent. Despite their importance in Africa, global production remains limited, with research and development efforts ongoing to improve yields and promote their cultivation beyond Africa due to their nutritional value and adaptability to challenging environments.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat