Outcomes of Legume Breeders Network Meeting

January 11 - 13, 2009, Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda

National crop breeders, farmers and seed companies from 12 countries in Africa converged in Kigali Rwanda to share information and plan for ways of increasing production and dissemination of high-yielding, and disease and pest resistant legumes. The discussions focused on current research and extension efforts to improve various common legumes in different ecological conditions and countries. The meeting identified challenges facing the legume sector and proposed strategies to accelerate breeding, multiplication, commercialization and production. The meeting was convened by AGRA, hosted by legume researchers in Rwanda and officially opened by the Rwandese Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Agnes Matilda Kalibata.

The meeting identified seven (7) legumes commonly grown by smallholders in Africa. These crops are also being developed and disseminated by breeders and seed companies: soyabean, pigeon pea, bush beans, climbing beans, cowpea, groundnuts and bambara nut. During a field visit to Ruhengeri in Northern Rwanda, it was observed that farmers have adopted the production of climbing beans to a scale that has not been observed in many countries in Africa.  The participants will expand into scientific network that will exchange germplasm, information and other products through www.africancrops.net website and other media in order to improve legume breeding and production.

The complete description of the outcomes of the meeting are available here. For further Information on AGRA, contact Susan Mwachi, AGRA, email: smwachi@agra-alliance.org.