1. Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Significance in Kenya:
   • Considered one of the most crucial legumes globally, providing essential nutrients.
   • Second most significant staple food crop in Kenya, following maize.
   • Grown across various regions, with major cultivation in Eastern, Nyanza, Central, Western, and Rift Valley provinces.
2. Bean Farming Practices:
   • Requires minimal care and enriches soil with nitrogen.
   • Second most vital food crop production after maize.
   • Primary source of affordable protein in Kenya.
   • Average yield of 10 bags per acre depending on the variety.
3. Regional Distribution:
   • Predominantly practiced in Central, Western, Nyanza, Eastern, and some parts of Western Kenya.
4. Production Statistics:
   • Kenya produced over 780,000 metric tonnes of beans in 2022.
5. Challenges Faced:
   • Low soil fertility and moisture stress due to climate change.
   • Lack of comprehensive market information.
   • Inadequate seed dissemination systems.
   • Poor cultural practices affecting yield.
6. Technological Solutions:
   • Research bodies like Kenya Agricultural Livestock Organization (KARLO) and National Agriculture Research Systems (NARS) have developed technologies.
   • These technologies aim to address challenges and assist farmers in making informed decisions.
7. Low Adaptation Rate:
   • Despite available technologies, adoption remains low.
   • Mainly attributed to insufficient dissemination of information to farmers.

Beans Farming in Kenya Varieties

1. Mwitemania Variety:
   • Oldest drought-tolerant variety.
   • Flowers in 30 days with pink and white flowers.
   • Matures in 70-90 days with a yield potential of 5-7 bags/acre.
2. KATX56:
   • Kidney-shaped beans.
   • Height of around 35 cm.
   • Flowers within 30-35 days.
   • Matures in 60-65 days with a yield potential of 7-10 bags/acre.
   • Tolerant to diseases such as rust, charcoal rot, and mosaic virus.
   • Good cooking qualities.
3. Katumani {KAT-B1}:
   • Suitable for hot climatic conditions.
   • Flowers in 30 days with light pink flowers.
   • Sweet grain taste.
   • Average yield of 7-9 bags/acre.
4. Katumani {KAT B9} – Gacuma:
   • Flowers in 30-40 days with light pink flowers.
   • Matures in 60-65 days.
   • More drought-tolerant than KAT-B1.
   • Yield potential of 7-9 bags/acre.
   • Gives an Irish brown color when cooked with maize.
5. Katumani X-56 {KAT X-56}:
   • Fast-cooking variety.
   • Flowers in 30-35 days with light pink flowers.
   • Matures in 60 days with dark red grains.
   • Average yield of 7-10 bags/acre.
   • Can out-yield KAT B9 and B1 under optimal conditions.
6. KATX69:
   • Red-mottled beans.
   • Flowers in 30-35 days with white flowers.
   • Matures in 60-65 days.
   • Elliptic kidney shape.
   • Yield potential of 7-10 bags/acre.
   • Tolerant to various diseases such as mosaic virus, charcoal rot, and angular leaf spot.
7. Miezi Mbili:
   • Bushy variety from Simlaw Seed Company.
   • Pink flowers after 35-46 days.
   • Yield of 6-7 bags with a seed rate of 30kg/acre.
   • Tolerant to diseases such as halo blight, angular leaf spot, floury leaf spot, and anthracnose.
8. Climbing Beans:
   • Ideal for limited land sizes and irrigation.
   • Good source of green beans, recommended for breastfeeding women.
   • Varieties include Kenya Mavuno and Kenya Tamu.
9. Kenya Mavuno:
   • White flowers after 40-70 days.
   • Rectangular and elliptic beans.
   • Matures after 110-150 days with a yield potential of 9-14 bags/acre.
   • Seed rate: 30kg/acre.
10. Kenya Tamu:
    • Flowers after 40-60 days.
    • Matures after 110-135 days with a yield potential of 9-14 bags/acre.
    • Ideal for farmers with small land sizes.

Ecological Requirements

1. Soil Requirements:
   • Thrives in well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
   • Weed-free soil with optimum pH of 6.5 – 7.5.
   • Growth is hindered in waterlogged soils.
2. Altitude:
   • Optimum altitude range: 1000-2100 meters above sea level (ASL).
   • Faster growth and maturation in low altitude zones.
3. Rainfall:
   • Suitable annual rainfall: 800-2000mm, distributed evenly.
   • Irrigation required in case of inadequate rainfall.
   • Excessive rainfall or prolonged dry spells reduce yields.
   • Too much rain during flowering leads to flower abortion and increased disease incidences.
   • Dry weather needed during harvesting.
4. Temperature:
   • Thrives in temperatures ranging from 15-33 degrees Celsius.
   • Optimal growing temperature: 20-25 degrees Celsius.
   • Relatively high temperatures affect flowering and pod setting.
   • Very sensitive to frost.

Planting

1. Propagation:
   • Propagated by seeds.
   • Recommended to use certified or disease-free seeds.
   • Avoid planting wrinkled, damaged, or diseased seeds.
2. Planting Time and Conditions:
   • Plant at the onset of the rains for rain-fed production.
   • Delay in sowing may result in crop failure or reduced yield.
3. Planting Spacing and Depth:
   • Plant seeds at spacing of 4015cm (2 seeds per hill) or 3015cm (1 seed per hill).
   • Plant seeds at a depth of 1-2 inches.
4. Intercropping:
   • Beans can be intercropped with other crops like maize.
5. Germination:
   • Seeds typically germinate within 4-7 days, influenced by variety and environmental factors.
6. Important Note:
   • Avoid planting beans in soil with excessively high nitrogen levels or where green manure crops were previously grown.
   • High nitrogen levels can result in lush foliage but fewer beans.

Beans Farming in Kenya Common Pests and Diseases

Pests:

1. Cutworms:
   • Description: Brown or black caterpillars found in soil, cutting stems of younger plants.
   • Management:
     • Dress seeds with SHIELD 600FS at 3 ml/kg.
     • Drench soil with PROFILE 440EC at 3 ml/l.
2. Bean fly:
   • Description: Larvae tunnel into plant stems, damaging vascular tissue.
   • Management:
     • Dress seeds with SHIELD 600FS at 3 ml/kg.
     • Drench soil with PROFILE 440EC at 3 ml/l.
     • Spray LEXUS 247SC at 8 ml/20l to kill adults.
3. Red spider mites:
   • Description: Tiny reddish-yellow pests on undersides of leaves, causing yellow stippling and web formation.
   • Management:
     • Spray ALONZE 50EC at 5 ml/20l.
4. Aphids:
   • Description: Soft-bodied, sap-sucking insects causing leaf curling and sooty mold.
   • Management:
     • Spray LEXUS 247SC at 8 ml/20l.
     • Spray JAMBO CLEAN at 5 ml/l to eliminate sooty mold.
5. Leaf miners:
   • Description: Larvae mine under leaf surface, forming trails.
   • Management:
     • Spray ALONZE 50EC at 3 ml/20l.
6. Pod borer:
   • Description: Feeds on leaves, flowers, and pods, bore holes and damage seeds.
   • Management:
     • Spray PENTAGON 50EC at 10 ml/20l.
7. Whiteflies:
   • Description: White insects sucking plant sap, causing leaf curling and sooty mold.
   • Management:
     • Spray PROFILE 440EC at 1.5 ml/l.
     • Spray JAMBO CLEAN at 100ml/20l for sooty mold.
8. Thrips:
   • Description: Suck sap from leaves and flowers, leading to abortion and leaf fall.
   • Management:
     • Spray ALONZE 50EC at 5 ml/20l or PROFILE 440EC at 30ml/20l.

Diseases:

9. Bean rust:
   • Description: Causes reddish-brown pustules on leaves, pods, and stems.
   • Management:
     • Spray DUCASSE 250EW at 1 ml/l or RANSOM 600WP at 15 g/20l.
10. Downy mildew:
    • Description: Whitish or grey fungal growth on leaf undersides, chlorotic upper leaf surface.
    • Management:
      • Spray GEARLOCK TURBO 250WP at 25 g/20l.
11. Anthracnose:
    • Description: Brown to black sunken lesions on pods, stems, and seeds.
    • Management:
      • Spray RANSOM 600WP at 15 g/20l or ABSOLUTE 375SC at 10 ml/20l.
12. Bacterial blight:
    • Description: Small brown blotches on leaves, leading to leaf fall and plant death.
    • Management:
      • Spray GREEN COP 500WP at 50g/20l.
13. Fusarium wilt:
    • Description: Sudden yellowing of leaves, wilting, and discoloration of vascular tissue.
    • Management:
      • Drench soil with GREENCOP 500WP at 5 g/l or TRINITY GOLD 425 WP at 2.5 g/l.

Fertilizer Application

Nutrient Management:

1. Planting Stage:
   • Apply Phosphorous-rich fertilizer during planting.
   • Consider adding manure based on soil organic matter.
   • Mix fertilizer/manure with HUMIPOWER at a rate of 1 kg Humipower per 1 ton of manure or 50 kg basal fertilizer to improve nutrient uptake and stimulate plant growth.
2. Top Dressing (4-5 Weeks After Germination):
   • Use CAN or basal fertilizer rich in Calcium, Boron, and Nitrates.
   • Mix with HUMIPOWER at a rate of 1 kg per 50 kg of basal fertilizer.
3. Supplementation:
   • Supplement basal fertilizers with foliar fertilizers for a wide range of vital nutrient elements.

Foliar Feeds:

1. OPTIMIZER (10 ml/20l):
   • Functions as a stress manager, boosts plant immunity, prevents flower abortion, and provides essential macro and micronutrients.
   • Can be sprayed at any stage of crop development.
2. GOLDCHANCE SERIES (50g/20l):
   • Goldchance Super Start: For early crop development.
   • Goldchance Super Flowers & Fruits: For flowering and fruiting/pod development stages.

Weed Control:

1. Weeding:
   • Essential to avoid losses due to weed competition and harboring pests and diseases.
   • CATAPULT 480SL (10-15 ml/l): Kills all types of weeds during land preparation or just before germination.
   • BENTAGRAN TOP® 240EC (2.5 ml/l): Post-emergent herbicide for controlling annual weeds in bean fields.
   • Weeding before flowering is crucial.

Beans Farming in Kenya Challenges

1. Climate Change:
   • Disrupted planting patterns, making it challenging for farmers to determine the optimal planting time.
   • Low or insufficient rainfall due to climate change affecting yields.
2. Lack of Adequate Information on Seed Varieties:
   • Farmers lack sufficient information on suitable seed varieties for their local areas.
   • Planting unsuitable seed varieties results in reduced yields and susceptibility to diseases.
3. Pests and Diseases:
   • Common diseases include bean root rot disease, particularly affecting farms in areas like Kitale.
   • Pests such as the stem maggot attack plants within the first three weeks after germination, causing swollen stems and yellowing leaves.
4. Unfair Competition from Imported Beans:
   • Imported beans from countries with lower production costs pose unfair competition.
   • Some governments offer subsidies for agricultural inputs, reducing production costs, unlike in Kenya.
   • The use of organic fertilizer can help lower production costs and increase return on investment for Kenyan bean farmers.

Harvesting

1. Timing:
   • Depending on varieties, beans are ready for harvesting 70-120 days after sowing.
   • Some varieties have shorter maturity periods.
   • Plants are mature when leaves turn yellowish to brown or fall off.
2. Harvesting Methods:
   • Beans can be harvested green or when dry.
   • For dry harvesting:
     • Pods are harvested when completely dry.
     • If pods have withered but are still moist, they can be picked and sun-dried.
     • Plants can be uprooted if most pods are ready for harvesting.
     • Timing is crucial as pods that are completely dry split open, exposing dried beans.

Storage:

1. Dry Beans:
   • Stored in treated gunny or PICS bags to prevent damage by storage pests.
   • Incorporate seeds with an insecticide like Actellic Super to prevent pest damage while in storage.
   • Bags should be placed on pallets, not directly on the floor.
2. Green Beans:
   • Can be refrigerated for 8-10 days.
3. Dried Beans:
   • Can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to a year or more.