The Role of Legumes in the Farming Systems of the Mediterranean Areas : Proceedings of a Workshop on the Role of Legumes in the Farming Systems of the Mediterranean Areas UNDP/ICARDA, Tunis, June 20-24, 1988 : Springer : 9789401069496 : 9401069492 : 01 Oct 2011 : Legumes are an important source of protein for humans and animals. They provide nutritionally rich crop residues for animal feed, and playa key role in maintaining the productivity of soils particularly through biological nitro­ gen fixation. They are, therefore, of immense value in rainfed farming systems. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) has a responsibility for research on food, pasture, and forage legumes. The Center also has the broad objective of improving livestock production in rainfed farming systems. Although food legumes have be~n known and grown by farmers in the WANA region for a long time, their productivity has remained low and variable. Forage legumes, on the other ha