Using Innovative Approaches
in Selecting and Disseminating
Bean Varieties in Mozambique:
Lessons Learnt
M.I.V., Amane; D.J. B. Dias; R. Chirwa; J.C.
Rubyogo and F. Tembo
10th Africa Crop Science Conference, 10-13th October
2011, Maputo, Mozambique
Importance of Beans
Good source of plant
protein/minerals/vitamins. In
Mozambique bean consumption is
less than 2 kg per person per year
Reduces hunger periods/cash strap period – due to its early maturing – takes 3 months,
Sold for cash – mainly grain,
Good for rotation and intercrop with cereals – for soil fertility management
Limitations to Bean Productivity
Bean Yield – on-farm <500 kg/ha – using farmer
varieties and knowledge.
Bean Yield – on-research station varies from1500 –
3000 kg/ha – using improved varieties and
production technologies.
Big gap: between on-farm and on-station - due to
technology and knowledge gap.
Existing and New Research Technology
Improved varieties and production
recommendations are available –but are
hampered by many factors:
Inadequate exposure of farmers, consumers, traders, other
rural service providers to potentially promising varieties.
Unavailability and inaccessibility of seeds of these varieties,
resulting from a disconnect between research and end-users
Bean Seed Situation
The formal and private seed sector have left
bean seed production by the wayside,
because:
Bean seed production is expensive to produce in relation to
the pay-offs;
Farmers can retain their own true-to type seed
Multiple agro-ecological niches, and corresponding
varieties, reduces the market size for each individual bean
type.
Main Objective
To engage smallholder farmers in the variety selection and in on-
farm seed production, in order to have an sustainable and easy
way of geting improved seed and get lessons to replicate to other
farmers.
Methodology Used
20 released and promising lines/varieties were exposed to
farmers in the project area, from 2007 till now.
Participatory variety selection (PVS) process was used.
Each variety was planted in 2 rows of 4 m long
In each site, the trial was not replicated
The trial was planted in various sites of the Provinces of Nampula,
Tete and Zambezia.
PVS Sites
Tete (Angonia,
Macanga, Moatize e
Tsangano)
Zambezia (Alto
Molocue, Gurue,
Milange)
Nampula (Malema)
Methodology Used cont…
The trial was managed under farmers’ conditions
Each trial site was managed by a group of 40-50 male and
female (farmers and traders)
A total of 45 trials from 2007-2010 were implemented where
stakeholders made their own selections
418 female and 603 men were involved in the PVS.
The trials were organized in collaboration with Extension,
NGOs and CBOs
Number Partner’s name
Geographical
Area of
Operation
Major Activity
1 World Vision Gurue and Alto
Molocue
Farmers’ organization, PVS trials, Demos,
seed production and marketing
2 IKURO Nampula Marketing
3 CLUSA Nampula Farmers’ organization and marketing
4 Extension All districts Technology transfer, PVS trials and Demos
6 Total Land Care Angonia and
Tsangano
Farmers’ organizations and Technology
transfer.
7 APLA Angonia Linkage with Farmers’ associations, PVS trials
and Demos
9 MLT Angonia Technology transfer
10 MIA Chokwe Seed production and Technology transfer
Partners Involved and Their Role
PVS trial Farmers’ training Ribbons
Farmers observe variety performance Black bags on each plot Result of farmers’ evaluation
PVS Process
Procedure of Participatory Variety Selection
Farmers select
varieties
using ribbons
Field days for PVS
Results
Farmers made selections based on their own criteria:
Criteria Gender
Male Female
High yielding x x
Growth habit x x
Resistance to pests and diseases x x
Market x
Food security x
Market Classes of the Most Preferred Varieties
No. of
villages
No. of
sites
No. of
genotypes
used
No. of community
members involved
The 5 most selected
Varieties
Male Female
30 45 20 603 418 1. VTTT923/10-3
2. VTTT925/9-1-2
3. Sugar 131
4. CAL 143
5. AFR 703
Results (Cont…)
The 5 most preferred varieties across location, 418 female and
603 men were involved in the PVS.
Results (Cont…)
Farmers involved in PVS were also involved in seed
production of the selected varieties/lines.
Later, the small farmers were dropped and only medium scale
farmers were considered
Farmers received different amounts of seed for increase,
under supervision of Extension, NGOs and CBOs
The seed produced was able to benefiting more number of
other community members.
Linking PVS with Seed Production
In 2006/07, thee programme
started with 20 varieties,
providing 82 seeds each,
In 2007/08 farmers shared the
seed of the different genotypes
with other community members.
The initiative is still going on in
the areas where PVS is been
implemented.
Farmers are benefitting
improved varieties from their
neighbors
Lessons Learnt
There is need to link improved seed production with
extension services, to hasten knowledge transfer and
utilization,
There is need for frequent trainings for farmers,
PVS is a very easy and efficient way to popularize and
disseminate new varieties,
There is need to establish strategic partnership of seed
producers with the emerging seed producers in rural
areas.
Acknowledgement
The McKnight Foundation CCRP, for funding,
Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique (IIAM),
District Departments of Agriculture
NGOs, and
Farmers’ Associations.
CIAT/SABRN