Climbing Bean with High Yield and N Fixation

Summary

Climbing bean varieties offer higher yields but require more intensive cultivation compared to bush types. Improved varieties of climbing bean with high yield potential, resistance to pests and diseases, and tolerance to abiotic stresses are now available in Eastern and Southern Africa. Breeding and selection for higher biological nitrogen fixation in climbing bean has served not only to cut costs for farmers but also makes it possible to grow the crop in nitrogen depleted soils. Climbing bean cultivation by small-scale farmers in Africa is highly effective in alleviating hunger and malnutrition, and enhancing incomes.

About the Solution

Climbing beans, also called pole beans, are characterized by long, indeterminate growing vines that reach up to 4 or more meters in height and require support from stakes or trellises. Conventional breeding approaches resulted in a number of climbing bean varieties for different agroecosystems across Sub-Saharan Africa, including elite lines with higher nitrogen fixing ability and landraces adapted to local conditions. Traits such as bean productivity, nodulation efficacy and resistance to drought, diseases and insect pests are the focus of this varietal improvement, and HIB varieties are also available. Climbing beans are capable of giving two to four times the bean harvest of bush varieties since they develop a vertical canopy and have a longer harvest period.

Climbing beans offer the best option for small-scale farmers where landholdings are diminishing and degrading, and available varieties have been adapted to the soil and weather conditions in diverse production zones across Sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, targeted breeding of early maturing and heat tolerant lines has enabled expansion of climbing beans from its traditional high altitude to medium- and low-altitude areas with semi-arid climates. Their high nutritional value makes climbing bean varieties well-suited for processing into flour or other products, such as pre-cooked and canned beans, which can be retailed on local and international markets.

A large diversity of improved climbing bean varieties is available for multiplication by farmers, community-based seed producers and private seed companies. These varieties include Mid-Altitude Climbers (MAC) 13, 34 and 64 in Kenya, NABE 12 and NABE 26C/28C in Uganda, MAC 44 and RWV 1129 in Tanzania, and Gasillida, RWV 3317 and RWV 3006 in Rwanda. Improved varieties of climbing beans are ready for harvest within a period of 95-120 days, and have excellent palatability and a high starch content.

Suitable climbing bean varieties and accompanying crop and soil management practices form a technology bundle that must be tailored in accordance with agro-ecological conditions and socio-economic contexts. Climbing beans must be supported by stakes or trellises. Furthermore, they are best cultivated as a monocrop but it can be intercropped with maize, banana, roots and tubers, sorghum or millet. Planting is usually done on hills or ridges receiving organic inputs, particularly in clay soils or where the water table is high. Plant densities are determined by the particular trellising system and degree of mechanization, with the spacing between rows for a monocrop typically at 75-100 cm. To achieve the full yield potential of climbing beans and maintain soil fertility on farmlands, there is need for seed inoculation with rhizobia, timely planting, fertilization, strong and tall staking and proper weeding.

Commercialization

Commercially available

Startup Requirements
The following actions need to be undertaken for entering into production of climbing beans: 1) Promote the availability of improved climbing beans and their benefits with regard to yield, climate resilience and return on investment, 2) Transfer elite varieties to commercial and community-based seed multipliers as a new product line, 3) Connect producers of climbing beans with buyers and food processors to create wider market opportunity, and 4) Provide financial support to farmers so they can make necessary and timely investments into quality seed, fertilizer inputs and staking. For commercial producers, the availability of netting streamlines trellising operations.
Production Costs
The development of new climbing bean varieties carries substantial costs for selective breeding and field testing which are typically carried by the public sector and donors. The transfer of improved climbing beans from institutions to private seed companies and farmers may require licensing agreements. Multiplication of climbing bean varieties is easy and inexpensive, and since they are self-pollinated farmers can save the best grains as planting material for the next season. Growing climbing bean is labor-intensive since they require staking and because of their large biomass production, climbing beans also require more nutrient inputs.
Customer Segmentation
Scaling the production of climbing bean serves a large customer base, including national programs, small-scale and commercial producers, private seed companies and food processors.
Potential Profitability
Food security and incomes of farmers are significantly increased when they grow climbing beans, as has been demonstrated in Rwanda where for each additional kilogram of planted climbing bean there was an increase of 2.8% in bean consumption and 0.9% in total food intake. Households that grow climbing bean increase food security and decrease the likelihood of financial hardship.
Licensing Requirements
Varieties of climbing bean are sometimes marketed by private seed companies or national programs under a commercial license. However, the diffusion of the varieties happens through various integrated seed systems approaches including informal seed systems and community based seed production.
Innovation as Public Good
Climbing bean varieties with high yield potential and nitrogen fixing ability have been developed as a Regional Public Good by ABC through the Pan African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) in collaboration with national partners, who share the responsibility for delivering the technology to farmers via local and regional initiatives for agricultural transformation.

Solution Images

Institutions

Accompanying Solutions

Low-Cost Staking for Climbing Beans Seed Inoculation with Rhizobia Seed dressing of Seed with Fungicide and Insecticide
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Solution Summary
  • Developed in 12 countries
  • Available in 12 countries

Solution Locations

Agroecologies

Humid forest Highlands Moist savanna

Regions

Africa South of Sahara

Solution Forms

Genetics

Solution Applications

Improved variety

Agricultural Commodities

Common bean

Target Beneficiaries

Agro-dealers Small-scale farmers Women Commercial farmers

Solution Holder

Josey Kamanda

j.kamanda@cgiar.org

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