Common Dry Beans Trainer of Trainers’ Manual

Abstract

Common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most widely cultivated legumes in the world. It is grown in 128 countries and territories on more than 27 million hectares across the world. Nearly 20 million metric ton of this crop is produced annually. Brazil, Myanmar, China, USA, Mexico, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Indonesia are the leading producers. The world average yield is just over 720 kg per ha. Sub-Saharan Africa account for about 16% of the total world common bean production. It is grown in 27 of the SSA countries on more than 5 million ha, producing over 3 million MT each year. The average yields are estimated at 600 kg per ha. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are the largest producers in SSA. Kenya has the largest area but Tanzania produces more because of its better yields (662 kg/ha as opposed to 471 kg/ha for Kenya). Common dry bean is well suited to diverse environments and fit in various cropping systems owing to their wide adaptability, low input requirements, fast growth, nitrogen fixing and weed smothering ability. Production tends to be more intensive where human population density is high, although a significant proportion of production occurs in areas of moderately low populations. Sole crop, maize-bean, banana-beans and root or tuber crop-bean intercrops are important among the many bean cropping systems in Kenya and for which the crop‘s rapid maturity and shade tolerance make it particularly suitable.