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