Low soilfertility is one of the most serious constraints to bean productivity in manyASARECA countries. Although soil fertility can be improved by application offertilisers, lime and organic amendments, most smallholder farmers cannotafford external inputs and rarely apply fertilisers and/or manures to theirbean crops. More than 60% of the soils in bean production zones are deficientin phosphorus and nitrogen. More than 30% of the bean crop is grown in acidsoils. Root rot is a serious threat to bean production and causes losses of221,000 tonnes per year in east, central and southern Africa. Root rot is moresevere in depleted soils and therefore closely related with low soil fertility.

Drought-resistantvarieties are one of the most important strategies for coping with frequentdroughts in bean production areas in ECA. Drought is endemic in large areas ofEthiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, and in eastern Rwanda and Burundi. Frequency,intensity and occurrence of drought vary considerably in bean growing areas(Amede et al. 2003).

Droughtresistant bean varieties are particularly important for resource-poorsmallholder farmers who have few other alternative and practical options ofreducing adverse impacts of drought stress. Bean varieties with high nutrientsuse efficiency, and marketable grain types offer new opportunities forenhancing bean productivity in low input production systems in ECA. Nutrientefficiency ensures that any external nutrient inputs will be used efficientlyand transformed into edible plant biomass. It also reduces nutrient mining.

Descriptionof the technology or innovation

Threenew varieties with combined tolerance to low soil fertility (low P, low N andsoil acidity and associated aluminium and manganese toxicity), drought andresistance to root rots have been developed and released by partners ofregional bean networks in the ASARECA region. These were released as NABE 13,NABE 14 and Kenya Umoja. Two new varieties adapted to low soil fertility, rootrots, and moderately tolerant to drought were developed by NACCRI (NARO)Uganda. A third variety was developed through a collaborative effort betweenUniversity of Nairobi and Egerton University in Kenya. The three varieties areKenya Umoja released in Kenya, and RWR 1946 (NABE 13) and RWR2075 (NABE 14)released in Uganda. Kenya Umoja is well adapted to soils low in P and N. It hasthe large red mottled grain type popular in Kenya and Uganda. It matures in80-90days. NABE 13 is has a large red grain type. It is resistant to root rotsand is very tolerant to acid soils low in phosphorus and nitrogen. It is alsoresistant to aluminium and manganese toxicity, grows vigorously, and has heavyseeds. NABE 14 has marketable large red seeds. It is resistant to low soilfertility (low P, N) and grows well in acid soils. It is also resistant to rootrots and angular leaf spot. These varieties have the upright erect growth habitthat is easy to manage and harvest. They are more drought tolerant than most ofthe varieties available to farmers in medium and high altitudes, and cancontribute to stabilisation of bean productivity especially in face of frequentand often severe intermittent droughts. These also have a yield potential of1.5 to 2.5 t/ha.

Potentialproduction zones include central highlands and Rift Valley region of Kenya,eastern Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Uganda. These varieties have beenextensively tested both on-station and on-farm trials in major bean productionzones where intermittent and terminal drought are major constraints. Theseregions correspond to African bean environments (AFBE 5, 6, 9 and 10) describedby Wortmann et.al (1998). These environments have <400 mm of availablemoisture, with monomodal or bimodal distribution and soil pH >5.5. Seedproduction on a limited scale has started in Kenya and Uganda.

Scaling-upapproaches

Theintended users of these technologies include:

1)   Millionsof smallholder farmers in drought prone environments

2)   Ruraland urban bean producers including smallholder subsistence and commercialfarmers

3)   Beantraders

The dissemination approaches that were used to reach theusers of these technologies included:

1)   Awider-impact strategy developed by PABRA/CIAT (CIAT 2005; Rubyogo et al. 2010).

2)   Partnershipswith a broad range of partners including NARS, extension officers, NGOs,community-based organisations, farmers and farmer groups.

3)   Useof wide variety of media, including field days, demo plots, video, promotionalmaterials including brochures, and leaflets in multiple languages.

From the experience in disseminating these technologies,the critical and essential factors for successful promotion and wider adoptioninclude:

1)   Adequateavailability of seed

2)   Adequateavailability of promotion materials to create awareness

3)   Farmerand other end-user involvement during the development and testing of theproduct

4)   Smallpacks which are affordable and enhances reach

5)   Demonstrationsin various venues

6)   Timelyavailability of planting materials in multiple locations and other inputs

7)   Availabilityof additional inputs such as inoculants, manure, is beneficial to realisationof benefits

8)   Marketabilityof the product

Among the challenges encountered and likely to affectfurther dissemination, adoption and scaling up/out include: limited amount ofsee; limited distribution channels; limited personnel for production of basic,certified seed; and operational expenses. The following recommendations can beapplied to address these challenges:

§ Supportproduction of adequate quantities of seed, link with partners with specialcapacities for dissemination.

§ Seekvarious options for support from development partners for seed money.

§ Supportcommercialisation of seed of new varieties for sustainability.

§ Conductpromotional activities with partners.

§ Trainfarmers on seed production and storage.

§ Linkageswith partners with adequate capacity to produce certified seed includingprocessing, dressing and labelling.

Among the lessons learned about the best ways to get technologiesor innovations used by the largest number of people include: involvement ofend-users during product development and testing and taking their preferencesinto consideration, availability of descriptions of technologies; promotionthrough a variety of channels; and partnerships, to ensure wide reach of thetechnologies.

Women are the primary actors in the selection, production,harvesting, processing and consumption of bean products. Participatoryapproaches revealed they have specific preferences, including: earliness,upright growth habit, cooking characteristics, taste, after-cooking shelf life,cooking time (save on fuel costs), flatulence, compatibility with other crops(intercropping), high yield potential, drought resistance and resistance topests and diseases.

Refer to technical handbook chapter on beans (Kenya) forrecommended management practices. This was recently updated (2010). Copies canbe obtained from Agricultural Information Centre (AIC), National AgriculturalLaboratories, Nairobi, Kenya.

Name and address of theorganisation:

Prof Agnes Mwang’ombe, Principal, College of Agricultureand Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, PO Box 29053-00625 Nairobi,Kenya; Email: principal-cavs@uonbi.ac.ke or deanagric@uonbi.ac.ke; Prof AgnesMwang’ombe mwangombe@kenyaweb.com; Telephone: +254 020 2055126; Mobile: +254722921075; Country: Kenya

Name and address ofpresenter:

Paul Kimani, International Center for Tropical Agriculture(CIAT)/Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi;PO Box 29053-00625 Nairobi, Kenya; Email: kimanipm@nbnet.co.ke; Telephone:+254 20 2048561; Mobile: +254 724511585; Country: Kenya

Name and address of theorganisation:

National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO),National Crops Resources Research Institute (NACRRI), Namulonge, PO Box 7084,Kampala, Uganda; Telephone: +256 41 573016; Fax: +256 752741554

Name and address of keyscientists:

Dr. Michael Ugen, National Crops Resources ResearchInstitute (NaCRRI), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), PO Box7084, Kampala, Uganda; Email: m.ugen@naro-ug.org, michaelugen@yahoo.com;Telephone: +256 41 573016; Mobile: +256 772 446739/712 446739; Fax:+256752741554

Dr Annet Nama, National Crops Resources Research Institute(NaCRRI), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), PO Box 7084,Kampala, Uganda; Telephone: +256-414-573016(office); Mobile: +256-777499691;Fax: +256-752-726554; Email: annetnama@yahoo.com

Name and address of keypartners:

Dr Robin Buruchara, International Center for TropicalAgriculture (CIAT), PO BOX 6247, Kampala, Uganda; Email:ciatadmin-Uga@cgiar.org; Fax: +256 41 567 635