Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum L): Production Challenges and Opportunities for Asia, Africa and Latin America

Fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a widely used medicinal plant in the Indian, Egyptian and Greek traditional medicines due to its enormous therapeutic applications [1]. It is also used as a fodder added to the inferior hay to improve its smell [2]. Several photochemical compounds found in fenugreek include steroids, alkaloids and flavonoids with immense medicinal, pharmacological nutraceutical and antioxidant properties [1-3]. This interesting plant is widely used as a flavoring agent for the Indian and Swiss cuisines. It is widely grown across various countries in Asia, Africa, Mediterranean, Europe, Russia and Australia [1-2]. Fenugreek has recently been introduced in the United States and Canada, and attempts are under way in Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina. Although it is cultivated in North Africa, it is unknown in the sub-Saharan, west, east and southern parts of Africa. Recently fenugreek production attempts in Nigeria and South Africa have been made, but more work is needed. This rainfed crop uses less water besides capable of fixing nitrogen in soil [3]. The production cost is low therefore it perfectly suits to dry and semi-arid conditions of the African continent as well as other dryer parts of Latin America. Many developing nations fall behind agricultural productivity hence there is an urgent need to promote sustainable agriculture [4]. Common humanity issues such as poverty, political instability, social unrest, global warming, crop failures, environmental pollution, poor economic growth, hunger, and food insecurity are impacting the lives of millions around the world daily [5, 6]. The major objective of this special issue is to introduce the readers more about this unique magical crop so that the potential and opportunities of growing fenugreek crop can be properly understood by various stakeholders such as scholars, scientists, plant breeders, forage producers, farmers and corporations. Through this special issue, we would like to build an integrated intellectual platform to promote capacity building on this unique crop for potential areas around the world. This issue has covered all aspects of fenugreek research and development to facilitate the understanding of the crop history, botany, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, agronomy, genetics, biotechnology, genomics, crop improvement, and other commercial opportunities. This comprehensive issue will be suitable for students and researchers in African universities in the realms of agriculture, agronomy, agrology, plant genetics, special/novel crop production, sustainable crop production, crop physiology, weed science, plant pathology, and economic botany. Several reputed scientists have dedicated their lives to fenugreek research and they have shared their experiences in this special issue. However, opinions expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or that of the publisher. There has been some overlap of information across different papers as is the challenge with any multi-authored special issue on a thematic subject matter. However, it is important to mention that we have not interfered in the structure and thoughts shared by our valued contributors to hold together the momentum of the spirit of team work. Our distinguished contributors working across the globe have unique experience of how humanity could utilize this multipurpose crop from scientific perspectives. We have tried to harness those hidden potentials of this crop through an integrated approach via agro-ecological, climatic and soil profiles of the vast continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America. We believe that this crop can be promoted across the developing world to boost rural agriculture and local economies. All the contributing scientists have exclusive experience with this subject in various agro-ecological zones representing three major continents. We hope that this will further generate a platform to share ideas and to enhance future collaboration among various partners who have similar interest towards this crop. The contributing authors of articles for this special issue are solely responsible for any misinformation, plagiarism and copyright infringements. Ttherefore the editors, publisher and the organizations involved are not responsible. We have tried to bring together a wide diversity and schools of thoughts from various renowned researchers, scientists and graduate students working on different aspects of fenugreek. As editors of this special issue, we have worked through this memorable experience as a facilitator to percolate diverse schools of thoughts among our peers and also tried to learn from their vast experience, knowledge and insights. The support and help extended by all contributors, editorial assistants, peer-reviewers and staff members of the American Journal of Social Issues and Humanities secretariat is greatly appreciated. Finally, we show our sincere gratitude to the Managing Editor, Rev Dr Emeka Ekeke, for his kindness and support in publishing this special issue.

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