FB4 Organic Rice Beans

Organic Rice bean (scientific name: Vigna umbellata) is a small, nutritious legume widely grown in Asia, especially in upland and tropical regions.

Plant Characteristics

• Type: Annual legume (can be bushy or climbing)
• Growth habit: Mostly climbing or trailing vine
• Height/Spread: Up to 1–3 meters if supported
• Leaves: Green, trifoliate (3 leaflets)
• Flowers: Small, yellow to pale yellow

Pod & Seed Features

• Pods: Slim, about 6–10 cm long
• Seeds (beans):
  • Small and oval
  • Colors: red, brown, yellow, or speckled
• Taste: Mild, slightly nutty

Growing Requirements

• Climate: Warm, tropical to subtropical (very suitable in the Philippines)
• Temperature: 20–35°C
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, tolerates poor soils better than many beans
• Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• Maturity: 60–120 days

Farming Advantages

• Hardy crop – grows even in marginal soils
• Drought-resistant
• Nitrogen-fixing – improves soil fertility
• Often used as:
  • Cover crop
  • Intercrop with maize or upland rice

Uses

• Human food:
  • Cooked like mung beans
  • Used in soups, stews, and rice dishes
• Animal feed: Leaves and pods used as fodder
• Green manure: Improves soil health

Nutritional Value

• High in:
  • Protein
  • Dietary fiber
  • Iron
  • Calcium
• Good alternative to other legumes like mung bean