Improved germplasm has been provided to all participating countries by the regional bean network. This germplasm is used for the regional variety testing—the development of new bean varieties with various attributes (e.g. resistance to pests and diseases) which meet the needs of each national bean R&D programme. The objective is to share germplasm within the network so that each national programme or the private sector can benefit from improved bean varieties developed by others in the region. In this way benefit are shared across the region, with those NARS who are not yet running their own full-scale breeding programmes standing to benefit most of all.

In 2006, a total of 22 new varieties which had improved yield potential, resistance to major diseases and pests, and marketable grain types were released in ECABREN countries, and a further 17 varieties were close to formal release.

Fifteen candidates were recommended for release in Kenya in December 2006 and include 12 bush and three climbing bean varieties (MAC13, MAC 34 and MAC 64). This was the first time climbing beans were formally released in Kenya. In Western DR Congo, three climbing bean varieties (Ndundu, Manseki and Mpolo) and two bush bean varieties (Sepe and Mbidi) adapted to the lowland humid tropics were proposed for release. Twenty-three bush varieties have been released for low elevation and high humidity areas including two regional varieties (Lyamungu 90 originating from Tanzania and Moore 88002 from Burundi). In Uganda, two new varieties (RWR 2075 and RWR 1946) with resistance to root rots and tolerance to low soil fertility were released. In Ethiopia, five new varieties were released in 2006. These were: STTT-165-92 (Chore), RAB 484 (Dinkesh), XAN 310 (Melka Dima), G843 (Alemaya), and STTT 165-96 (Chercher). Twelve candidates have been proposed by FOFIFA bean programme for release in Madagascar. These included four large white, red mottled and kidney grain types with acceptable export quality, tolerance to disease and to low soil fertility.

TESTING OF IMPROVED AGRONOMIC PRACTICES

Selection of bean lines tolerant to low soil P, N, pH and Aluminum toxicity. Bean production in Africa is severely constrained by low soil fertility. In Central, and Eastern Africa, the major soil fertility-related problems include low available Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P), low availability of exchangeable bases and soil acidity. In this area, Phosphorus is deficient in 65 to 80% of the cultivated areas, and Nitrogen in 60% of areas. Although bean is produced primarily in areas where median soil pH is between 5.0 and 6.0, over 23% of the production in eastern Africa occurs in areas where soil pH is either below or equal to 5.0. Several tolerant bean varieties have been adopted by farmer and released in some countries. For example RWR 1783, calima type which is tolerant to soil acidity and low phosphorus, is widely grown in eastern DR Congo. In fact, this variety is locally known as D6 Bean (an old popular cultivar grown by many farmers in the region).

Soil amendment with Tithonia, compost and farmer manure with improved bean variety (e.g. Kiangara) has proved to control Fusarium wilt resulting in improved yield of beans.

POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES

The most damaging storage pest reported by dry bean farmers is the bean bruchid (bean weevil) Acanthoscelides obtectus. A number of options promoted at small scale farm level to control bruchids include use of neem seed oil, bean debris and Actellic dust which are all equally effective in controlling the bean weevil. In Eastern D.R. Congo, research with farmer's groups has shown that the use of 30g of plant powder per 5kg of bean seed could protect stored beans against bruchids for more than 6 months.

INTEGRATED NUTRIENT, PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

According to farmers the major insect pests in order of importance are aphids, cutworms, bean stem maggots (BSM) and bruchids, and the diseases in order of importance include bean mosaic viruses, blight, leaf rust, root rots, anthracnose and angular leaf spot. Improved and cost effective pest, disease and soil management options have been selected, tested and adopted by bean growers. Among these practices include use of improved bean varieties, regular scouting for pests, timely planting, use of botanical plant extracts (such as Tephrosia, Tithonia, Marigold, Datura, Neem and dry Sisal leaves), use of conventional chemical pesticides and fertilisers, timely weeding and harvesting, proper drying and clean storage (for control of bean weevils or bruchids), and soil nutrient management (such as the use of compost and manure).

ROOT ROT MANAGEMENT

Since 1988, soil borne diseases have been a serious threat for bean production in the highland regions with the first epidemics reported in Rwanda. Through regional collaboration, the Network has identified the technology and started to transfer it through NGOs, farmer's groups, Ministry of Agriculture extension services, and development projects.

CIAT and regional scientists have screened hundreds of bean accessions and identified bean genotypes such as RWR 719 (selected in Rwanda), MLB-49-89A, MLB-39-89A (selected in D.R. Congo), and SCAM-80-CM/5 (from Burundi) which are resistant to common foliar diseases and the complex of root rot pathogens found in the Great Lakes Region. These varieties have been adopted by farmers in western Kenya to replace GLP 2 or K20 bean cultivar which succumbed to root diseases prevailing in parts of this country. Now most farmers in Western Kenya have returned to dry bean cultivation using these improved varieties since abandoning it in the mid-1990s because of disease problems. In Eastern DR Congo, use of acid soil tolerant varieties (such as M'Sole or ACC 7/4), combined with organic manure have been shown to effectively control bean root rot.

BEAN STEM MAGGOT RESISTANT MATERIALS AND IPM

The Network also has been tackling bean stem maggot (BSM) or bean fly, which is another threat to beans in all major production areas of the region. Considering genetic host resistance as an economic and unharmful management strategy, bean scientists at CIAT, Ethiopia, Tanzania and other countries found possible to reduce damage due to bean stem maggot by combining resistance with other control strategies since resistance is not completely effective in all situations. Identified bean lines tolerant to BSM have finally been released among which Beshbesh and Melkie released in Ethiopia. Exchange of materials has created great hope for small-scale farmers living in similar agro-ecological conditions to use tolerant bean stem maggot varieties for increasing their productivity combined with improved soil fertility management options.

SEED DISSEMINATION

Dry beans are an important food and cash crop in the ECA region. The crop is predominantly produced in low external input systems by small scale systems. In the recent past, farmers have been increasingly looking for improved varieties which meet specific bean market demands and/or varieties which are adapted to ever-changing agro-ecosystems. NARS, supported by CIAT-ECABRN have released a considerable number of improved and preferred varieties with both wider and specific agro-ecological adaptation. However the challenge is to ensure that these varieties are known and ultimately accessible to end users. As bean is a quasi self pollinated crop, farmers reuse seeds from their harvest without worrying about introducing genetic deterioration. This situation deters commercial seed companies from investing in the supply of improved bean seeds to sell to intermediaries such NGOs and FOs (except for the very popular varieties). Thus this situation has compelled NARS and other interested service producers to look for an alternative seed systems which is integrated, but with more emphasis on decentralised (farm-based) seed production and supply, supported by interested service providers or intermediaries. Nevertheless, interested seed companies are also encouraged to access basic seeds of the germplasm in which they are interested in. As results of using this approach, more farmers in ECA have been able to access seeds of improved varieties of their choice, mainly from the decentralised seed producers (farmer to farmer) and local market. While the ECABRN 5 year's objective (2003-7) was to reach about 1.2 million households, by 2006 about 4.5 million households were reached. This approach has also allowed partners involved to share responsibilities and resources, thus making the approach more efficient. Since different partners have different strategic and operational objectives including socio-economic and geographic coverage, different categories of farmers are reached with their germplasm of their choice, thus farmers are able to access diverse genetic varieties according to their interests.

The dissemination of export varieties including navy beans (called "White Gold") in Ethiopia and sugar bean variety (MAC 31 or NABE 12C) which have good canning quality in Uganda has created awareness among thousands of growers and the private sector who might be willing to venture into the bean business.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

Diverse promotional materials including brochures, calendars, leaflets, manuals, posters, and booklets were developed and translated into local languages (Luganda, Amharic, Swahili, Malagasy) by NARS and their partner organisations in several countries such as Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda. Manuals comprised small scale bean seed production manuals, green manure crops for improved bean production, disease and pest management, improved agronomic practices and bean recipes have been developed and made available to potential partners, bean growers and consumers for enhancing bean production, marketing and consumption in the region. Village information centres have been adopted as distribution centres for promotional and extension material, targeting farmers in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. A wide range of communication channels were used, both traditional methods (drama, songs, poems and word of mouth) and conventional methods (training seminars, demonstrations and learning plots, field days and visits, radio, displays, promotional materials, village information centres, radio and TV) proved to be effective. Farmer-to-farmer dissemination of information and technologies was the most commonly used method. New farmers adopted technologies from innovative farmers with often small modifications. The participatory group approach and processes have helped even those farmers who couldn't read nor write to learn effectively and become trainers of other farmers at other sites.

CAPACITY BUILDING (TRAINING)

Researchers, technicians, non-scientific partners and farmers have all benefited from various network training activities. Network scientists have developed skills in technical areas such as breeding (crosses and marker-assisted breeding), research planning, and monitoring and evaluation. Network scientists have emerged as leaders in R&D activities on drought and water deficit, soil improvement and participatory approaches to agro-ecosystem management. NGO partners promote farmer-based seed production systems, use of integrated disease management and integrated nutrient management to increase bean production, and are more aware of business opportunities for linking farmers to markets.

Small scale farmers across participating countries have been trained in seed production techniques, coupled with training in bean production areas including soil management, pest and disease control, post-harvest techniques as well as preparation of income-generating bean recipes. For example, about 10,949 Ethiopian bean growers acquired knowledge and skills through training in bean technology development, quality and marketing resulting in the improvement of quality of export navy bean products. The Ethiopian Bean Programme supported by CIAT-ECABREN in partnership with Lume-Adama Farmers Cooperative Union (LAFCU) and other development partners, trained and supervised farmer union members in improving productivity and quality of navy bean product. This resulted in a price increase for bean seed for small scale farmers. As result of training, navy bean yield increased from 800 kg/ha to 1,800 kg/ha; impurity was decreased from 25-30% to 3%, and price increased from 1.2 birr/kg bag to 3.3 birr/kg. In addition, the members receive dividends on exported products to Europe after sale.

ECABREN, Selian Agricultural Research Institute, Dodoma Road, P.O. Box 2704, Arusha, Tanzania
Tel +255-27-2508557, fax +255-27-2508557, email m.pyndji@cgiar.org

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