1. The document discusses an innovative approach used by Ethiopia's common bean research program to improve livelihoods through the generation and promotion of improved bean varieties. 2. The program focuses on developing drought-tolerant and pest-resistant varieties of various market classes of beans. Varieties are developed using diverse germplasm and participatory methods. 3. Improved seed is multiplied and disseminated through the seed system and promotion efforts, increasing bean productivity, production area, and exports, benefiting farmers and the economy. The approach serves as a model for other crops.

1. Produced for the
27 February – 4 March 2016
Innovative Approach on Common Bean Based Technology
Generation and Promotion for Improvement of the
Livelihood at Lowland Areas of Ethiopia
Berhanu Amsalu Fenta1*, Kassay Negash1, Kidane Tumssa1, Endeshaw Habte1, Tigist Shiferaw1, Dagmawit Tsegaye1, Temesgen
Wakessa1, Rubyogo Jean Claude2, Clare Mugisha Mukankusi3, Stephen E. Beebe4
1 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa research centre, P.O.Box 436, Ethiopia
2 Pan Africa bean Research Alliance (PABRA), CIAT Africa, C/O Selian Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 2704, Arusha
3Center for International Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), P.O.Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda
4Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
.
Introduction Results
Methods
Conclusions
Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L), has a special place in Ethiopia
farming system and national economy. It plays a significant role as a
food security crop for smallholder farmers being a good source of
protein and minerals. Further, it also enhances the income of growers
and the foreign exchange earnings of the country. However, the
production is constrained with several biotic and abiotic factors. Further,
the producers are growing old varieties which are susceptible to these
production constraints and the access of improved varieties is also
limited. Thus, the common bean research program in Ethiopia aims at
contributing to the improvement of the livelihoods of smallholder
farmers through generation and promotion of improved common bean
varieties which are demand driven, climate-smart, and tolerant to biotic
and abiotic constraint thereby enhancing foreign currency earnings of
the country . To achieve these goals the breeding program has been
using different innovative approaches to generate and promote bean
based technologies to improve production and productivity to improve
the livelihood of growers and to improve the benefit from this crop for
the value chain actors.
 To achieve the aim of, the breeding
program has used different source of
germplasm ( hybridization , selection
from advanced lines introduced from
CIAT and other partners and use of
local landraces.
 The program focuses on four major
seed market classes (products)
 Small/large white beans,
 Speckled/sugar bean,
 Small/large reds
 Yellow/cream beans
•Use national & regional
multi-stakeholder platform
•Seasonal planning & review
meeting at each platform
•Farmer cooperative Union
participation on marketing
•Ethiopia commodity exchange
marketing & information flow
•Demonstration
•Field day & field visit
• Use of promotional material
leaf let, poster, brochure)
• Use different media
electronic media (TV, Radio,
IVR)
• Promotion of food recipes
•Breeder seed multiplication
•Foundation (pre-basic & basic
seed)
•Certified seed
•Catalyze the seed system
•Farmer cooperative union seed
multiplication
•Seed producers group
association
•Engagement of GO’s &
NGO’s in seed prod’n
•Capacity building of
seed producers
• Planning & prioritization of
traits with stakeholders
(demand driven variety
generation)
• Participatory variety selection
• Fast-track variety release
trough importation of
demanded varieties
• Product based variety
development
• Management technology
generation
• Participation of regional &
federal research centers
Technology
generation
Technology
multiplication
Information
flow &
Marketing
Technology
promotion
Bean
Product
General Innovative approach has shown below:
Increased
productivity
Production expansion
Production
increased
Bean Export increased
 For the last 10 years user preferred 21
bean verities with wider choice in bean
market class, which are adaptable to
lowland agro-ecologies have been
developed.
 Complimentary bean management
(disease, insect pest, weed & agronomic)
technologies and information have been
also generated.
 Seed system catalyzed and seed access
improved
Major achievement and Impact
Generally, this innovative approach has significantly enhanced the
productivity per unit area and area of production. Further the market in
beans has impacted the livelihood of bean growers and the value chain
actors like traders, processors in the country and the country has benefited
from the export earning of this commodity. Thus, the demand led breeding
and value chain approach using bean innovation platform can be used as a
model system for other crops.
 Due to enhanced initial seed
access in the seed system the
number of growers using bean
based tech increased.