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

Partners Involved and Their Role
Geographical
Number Partner’s name Area of Major Activity
Operation
1 World Vision Gurue and Alto Farmers’ organization, PVS trials, Demos,
Molocue 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 Farmers’ organizations and Technology
Tsangano 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

PVS Process
PVS trial Farmers’ training Ribbons
Result of farmers’ evaluation Black bags on each plot Farmers observe variety performance

Procedure of Participatory Variety Selection
Farmers select
varieties
using ribbons

Field days for PVS

Results
Farmers made selections based on their own criteria:
Gender
Criteria
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

Results (Cont…)
The 5 most preferred varieties across location, 418 female and
603 men were involved in the PVS.
No. of No. of No. of No. of community The 5 most selected
villages sites genotypes members involved Varieties
used 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…)
 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