Participatory development and selection of acceptable high yielding bean genotypes for consumption and the market requirements for the rural communities in Southwestern and Western Uganda

Annet Namayanja 

National Agricultural Research Organization; Tel: 256-414-573016; Fax: 256-752-726554
Email: annetnama@yahoo.com; Grant No: 2007 PASS 043

View previous research in beans

Background

Despite the high yield potential of the improved bean varieties in Uganda, the rate of adoption has remained low for some of these varieties in several parts of the country. The low rate of adoption is mainly due to the seed types that are not popular in the local market. Currently, there are limited number of improved varieties locally available with acceptable seed types leading to farmers continued to grow and utilize the traditional landraces with acceptable seed attributes. It is likely that farmers prefer to grow traditional varieties that are popular in the local market in disregard of the high yielding attributes of the improved varieties. Other traits common with the traditional land races such as the large seed size, seed colour, early maturity, the taste and cooking quality also influence acceptability and adoption of beans in Uganda. On the contrary, traditional landraces are low yielding due to susceptibility to major biotic and abiotic stresses, constraining farmers’ abilities to produce sufficient quantities for domestic consumption and the local market.  Scientists need to breed varieties that respond to unique consumption and market needs using the traditional land races as parents. Successful case studies in the use of traditional landraces have been shown for barley in Syria; beans in Rwanda, Colombia and Brazil; potato in Peru; pearl millet and Rice in India (Hardon, 1995).

Project Objectives

1. The current research project is developing and selecting new superior bean genotypes with acceptable seed types for both home consumption and local market requirements targeting rural communities in south western and western Uganda. Location specific traditional land races will be used as parental germplasm.

2. The project is also integrating the use of the mid-altitude climbing beans as part of the parental germplasm pool, mainly because of the several advantages they possess over the traditional climbing beans. Such attributes include possession of grain types of the Andean type, short cooking time and high palatability, characteristics that are relevant to local market requirements and home consumption. However, they are also susceptible to major stresses such as bean root rot disease.

Expected output

It is anticipated that the new superior genotypes developed will possess some of the desirable characteristics of the traditional land races and mid altitude climbers. These attributes will make them more acceptable in the local market requirements and for home consumption.

For more information contact

Annet Namayanja 

National Agricultural Research Organization;

Tel: 256-414-573016; Fax: 256-752-726554
Email: annetnama@yahoo.com; Grant No: 2007 PASS 043