These varieties, developed for production in semi-aridareas, are more drought- tolerant than most of the varieties available tofarmers in this region, and can contribute to stabilisation of beanproductivity—especially in the face of frequent and often severe drought andthe associated moisture stress. Annual bean yield losses due to drought areestimated at more than 396,000 kg per year in East, Central and Southern Africa.Drought-resistant varieties are one of the most important strategies for copingwith frequent droughts in bean production areas in East and Central Africa.Drought is endemic in large areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, and ineastern Rwanda and Burundi. Frequency, intensity and occurrence of drought varyconsiderably in bean growing areas (Amede et al. 2003). Drought resistant beanvarieties are particularly important for resource poor smallholder farmers whohave few other alternative and practical options of reducing adverse impacts ofdrought stress.

The technology consists of 12 early-maturing, droughtresistant bush bean varieties developed by the University of Nairobi (MieziMbili, Kenya Early, Kenya Sugar and New Rosecoco) by KARI-Katumani (Kat B1, KatB9, Kat 56 and Kat 69), ISAR-Rwanda (SER30, SER16, RWR 2245, and RWR 1180) andISABU (Burundi) in partnership with the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance(PABRA) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Thesevarieties have been released and ready for large-scale dissemination. Theyinclude small, medium and large seed grain sizes of major market classes, andhave average yields of 1320–2300 kg/ha and yield advantage >30% comparedwith commercial varieties. These mature in 80 to 90 days. Green pods can beharvested within 48 days after planting.

Other attributes of these bush bean varieties are:

1)   Uprightgrowth habit (type I).

2)   Earlymaturity.

3)   Marketclass: large-seeded sugar, small and medium reds, yellow, red mottled and redkidney grain types.

4)   Diseaseresistance: They are moderately or resistant to resistance to rust, commonbacterial blight, halo blight, angular leaf spot, anthracnose, bean commonmosaic and necrotic viruses.

Refer to the Regional Seed Catalogue (ASARECA 2004) forinformation on individual varieties.

These varieties arose from selection and extensive testingboth on-station and on-farm trials in major bean production zones in droughtprone areas in Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya, which are representative of othersemi-arid zones. Results showed that they are adapted to production zones withaltitudes of 1100 to 1800 m above sea level. Average yields vary from 130 to2300 kg/ha. These regions correspond to African bean environments (AFBE 5, 6, 9and 10) described by Wortmann et al (1998). These environments have <400 mmof available moisture, with monomodal or bimodal rainfall and soil pH >5.5.

Scaling-upapproaches

The users of the technology include: Millions ofsmallholder farmers in drought prone environments; Rural and urban beanproducers; Traders; a wide range of rural and urban consumers (the poor, themalnourished, women/men, those with land shortages, bean users generally) and,commercial farmers.

The dissemination approaches used to reach the users of thetechnology included:

§ Widerimpact strategy developed by PABRA/CIAT (CIAT 2005; Rubyogo et al. 2010)

§ Mainlythrough partnerships with a broad range of partners including NARS, extensionofficers, NGOs, community-based organisations, farmers and farmer groups

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

From the experience in disseminating the technology thecritical and essential factors for successful promotion and wider adoptioninclude: adequate availability of seed, adequate availability of promotionmaterials to create awareness, farmer and other end-user involvement during thedevelopment and testing of the product small packs which are affordable andenhance reach, demonstrations at various venues, timely availability ofplanting materials in multiple locations and other inputs, availability of additionalinputs such as inoculants and manure that are beneficial to realisation ofbenefits, and the marketability of the product.

Among the challenges encountered and likely to affectfurther dissemination, adoption and scaling up/out include: limited amount ofseed, limited distribution channels, limited personnel for production of basic,certified seed and operational expenses.

The following are recommendation for addressing thechallenges:

§ Supportproduction of adequate quantities of seed

§ Linkwith partners with special capacities 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 labeling.

The lessons learned about the best ways to get technologiesor innovations used by the largest number of people were:

§ Involvementof end-users during product development and testing and taking theirpreferences into consideration

§ Availabilityof descriptions of technologies

§ Promotionis critical through a variety of channels

§ Partnerships,to ensure wide reach of the technologies.

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.

Contact person:

Prof Agnes Mwang’ombe,

Principal, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences,

University of Nairobi,

P. O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya

Email: principal-cavs@uonbi.ac.ke or deanagric@uonbi.ac.ke;mwangombe@kenyaweb.com; Telephone: +254 20 2055126;

Mobile: +254 72292107543

Name and contact addressof presenter:

Paul Kimani, CIAT Regional Programme on Beans in EasternAfrica,

Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection,

University of Nairobi,

P. O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya;

Email: kimanipm@nbnet.co.ke;

Telephone: +254 020 2048561;

Mobile: +254 724511585

Names and contacts of keyscientists in Kenya (for Katumani varieties):

Dr CW Kariuki, Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization(KALRO)-Katumani,

P. O. Box 340 Machakos, Kenya;

Email: cwkariuki@jambo.co.ke;

Mobile: +254 722674277

Contact of principalscientist: DavidKaranja/David Macharia,

Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO),Katumani,

P. O. Box 340-90100, Machakos, Kenya;

Email: ksukatu@wananchi.com or karanjadr@yahoo.com;

Telephone: +254 20 3503149;

Mobile: +254 722 674277,

Fax: +254 20 3503149

Name and address ofprincipal scientist:Augustine Musoni,

National Bean Programme Coordinator,

ISAR, Nyagatare, Rwanda;

Email: afmusoni2@yahoo.com;

Telephone: +250 0788747932;

Mobile: +250 0788747932

Name and address of theorganisation:

Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU),

P. O. Box 795, Bujumbura, Burundi;

Telephone: +(257) 22222567;

Fax: +257 22225798

Name and address ofprincipal scientist:

Capitoline Ruraduma,

National Bean Programme Coordinator,

Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU),

P. O. Box 795, Bujumbura, Burundi;

Mobile: +257 7751728;

Telephone: +257 22222567,

Fax: +257 22225798,

Email: ntirabampa2000@yahoo.fr, apruraduma@yahoo.fr