According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2020, Pakistan produced 253,032 metric tons of cluster beans, making it the world’s fifth-largest producer of the crop.
Agriculture employs more than 40% of Pakistan’s workforce and accounts for nearly 19% of the country’s GDP. However, the agriculture sector in Pakistan is facing numerous challenges, including water scarcity, soil degradation, and declining crop yields. To address these issues, farmers and policymakers are exploring alternative crops that can grow in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. One such crop is cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), commonly known as guar.
This drought-tolerant crop is well-suited to Pakistan’s climate and can be grown in arid and semi-arid regions. The primary reason that cluster beans are grown is for their seeds, which are abundant in guar gum, a water-soluble polysaccharide that is extensively utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, and oil sectors.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2020, Pakistan produced 253,032 metric tons of cluster beans, making it the world’s fifth-largest producer of the crop. In a study conducted in Pakistan’s Punjab province, researchers found that cluster beans had a higher net return per hectare compared to wheat and cotton crops in the region.
The net return per hectare for cluster beans was estimated at PKR 51,872 (approximately USD 312), compared to PKR 46,057 (USD 276) for wheat and PKR 27,508 (USD 165) for cotton. In a field experiment conducted in Pakistan’s Sindh province, researchers found that cluster bean had significantly higher water use efficiency (WUE) compared to cotton.
The WUE of cluster bean was 0.68 kg/m³ while the WUE of cotton was 0.23 kg/m³. According to the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, cluster beans have the potential to contribute USD 500 million to Pakistan’s economy by 2022, with an estimated export potential of 200,000 metric tons.
For increasing agricultural output in Pakistan, cluster bean is a potential crop due to its many benefits. Firstly, it is a water-efficient crop that requires less irrigation than other major crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton. Cluster bean requires only 3330 m³ of water per hectare, compared to 10000 m³ of water for cotton and 15000 m³ of water for rice. This makes it an ideal crop for water-scarce areas, where water is a limiting factor for agricultural productivity.
Secondly, cluster bean is a nitrogen-fixing crop, which means it can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This property makes it an excellent crop for improving soil fertility and reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers.
Thirdly, cluster bean has a high yield potential, producing up to 6 tons of seeds per hectare. This high yield can contribute to farmers’ income and enhance Pakistan’s economy, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where crop productivity is low.
Lastly, cluster bean is a low-input crop that requires minimal fertilizer and pesticide applications, reducing the cost of production and making it a cost-effective crop for small-scale farmers. Cluster bean requires only 30–40 kg of nitrogen, 20–30 kg of phosphorus, and 15-20 kg of potassium per hectare, which is significantly less than other major crops such as wheat and cotton.
In addition to its benefits for farmers, cluster bean also has environmental benefits. As a drought-tolerant crop, it can reduce the pressure on Pakistan’s limited water resources and act as a nitrogen-fixing crop. It can improve soil health and reduce soil degradation.
Furthermore, it is a non-GMO crop, making it an environmentally friendly choice for farmers and consumers. Cluster bean cultivation has been increasing steadily in recent years. In 2019–20, the total area under cluster bean cultivation in Pakistan was 225,500 hectares, which produced 252,400 metric tons of cluster bean seeds. This represents a 13.7% increase in the area under cultivation and a 10.6% increase in production compared to the previous year.
These statistics indicate that cluster bean cultivation is gaining popularity among farmers in Pakistan, and its potential for enhancing agricultural productivity is being recognized.