The Role of Legumes in the Farming Systems of Portugal

Abstract

Legume production occupies about 9% of the total area of the country. Since 1963 the areas and production of both feed and food legumes have greatly decreased as a result of high production costs, poor farming methods requiring a large labour force, and low yields. It is important to increase feed legume production, faba beans, peas and sweet lupins, for the mixed feeds industry, to replace in part the large imports of proteinaceous raw materials. Human diets could be improved by increased consumption of chickpeas and beans.

Pasture and forage-growing areas could be increased to 30% of the country if suitable farming systems were used. Legume crops will help to improve soil fertility through the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and should always be included in farming systems on poor soils. They can contribute to higher yields if used in rotations with cereals on better soils.

Constraints to productivity are lack of suitable cultivars, poor farming techniques and little mechanization, and some of the main research priorities aim at overcoming these constraints. National Research Stations and the Regional Directorates for Agriculture are largely responsible for research and extension.