In the period 2003-05, PABRA coordinated a set of impact studies led by NARS scientists, to gain greater insight into the effects of new bean varieties used in farming systems in DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The impact studies show generally favourable results across all countries. The networks have been effective in reaching small farmers and improved varieties cover an average of 49% of the total bean area planted in the 7 countries that were studied. The majority of farmers who tested varieties have subsequently adopted them and extrapolation shows almost 35 million farmers are now sowing these improved varieties. Quantitative survey data at household level shows that use of new bean varieties has contributed substantially to both food security and financial security. In terms of consumption, adopters have generally been able to increase their bean supplies by about one third. On the contrary, there is evidence of declines in bean food production by non-adopters in both DR Congo and Rwanda.

The financial gains by new bean variety adopters have been impressive, with as much as a five-fold increase in bean income seen by farmers in eastern DR Congo. In terms of total bean income (local and new varieties) in 2003- 4, improved bush varieties contributed between 38% and 72% of the bean financial total in Rwanda and DR Congo, respectively.

However the consumption/income divide is not clear-cut, as follow-up studies show that bean sales often lead to purchase of food, particularly during the food gap ("hungry") periods. Results of farmer wealth rankings show that bush bean (and not climbing beans) technology is wealth neutral. The effects of expanded new bean cultivation are both positive and negative. Increased bean use may bring women more income, but it can also create challenges of harnessing more labour, as women-controlled plots expand.

Benefits from both increased consumption and sale of new bean varieties have been modest, others have been sufficient to enable farmers to expand their livelihoods. Rates of return to R&D compare favourably to other agricultural examples, being in the order of +25% based on successes to date.

The impact studies in DR Congo, Kenya and Tanzania showed local markets as the primary source for new material. The future challenge is how to introduce new bean varieties into local systems, and hence into markets, in a more systematic way. FARA and CORAF/WECARD will support information exchanges in bean research for development (R4D) in West and Central Africa, and technical backstopping and training will be provided by PABRA-CIAT. Pictured above are participants of the workshop which took place at the FARA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana in October 2006.

PABRA, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda
Tel +256-414-567670, fax +256-414-567635, email r.buruchara@cgiar.org

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