Description
The binomial name of Butter bean is Phaseolus lunatus. It is commonly known as the lima bean or butter bean; it is also known as Haba bean, Pallar bean, Burma bean, Guffin bean, Hibbert bean, Sieva bean, Rangoon bean, Madagascar bean, Paiga, Paigya, prolific bean, civet bean, sugar bean or đậu ngự (Vietnamese). By 1301, cultivation had spread to North America, and in the sixteenth century, the plant arrived and began to be cultivated in the Eastern Hemisphere. The small-seeded wild form (Sieva type) is found distributed from Mexico to Argentina, while the large-seeded wild form (Lima type) is found distributed in the north of Peru. In the Southern United States, lima beans and butter beans are seen as two distinct types of beans. These beans are white, of almost uniform size, and flat oval-shaped. They are soft, tender, and tasting. Because of their sweetness, it is essential that they are protected from infestation. By boiling they are converted into paste or jelly for cakes or cookies, and also used for soups or curries. It is also one of the ingredients used in the manufacture of vermicelli.
Specifications
Lima beans contain both soluble fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and lowers cholesterol, and insoluble fiber, which prevents constipation, digestive disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis.
Lima beans also provide folate and magnesium. Folate lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is an intermediate product in an important metabolic process called the methylation cycle. Elevated blood levels of homocysteine are an independent risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
In Myanmar , Butter Bean is gown in winter only . Producing States and Divisions are Sagaing, pegu ( East and West), Megue , Mandalay , Mon, Shan (North) and Irriwady. Among them Megew Division produce good quality of better beans which is liked by Japan buyer.
In Myanmar, about 75% of total production of Butter Bean is exported to China,Japan, Korea, Singapore and UAE by oversea or Border trade.Myanmar exported about 1600 tonnes in 2006-07, over 17000 tonnes in 2007-08, over 16000 tonnes in 2008-09, about 12000 tonnes in 2009-10 and about 9000 tonnes in 2010-11 (up to November).