In a bid to enhance bean production in Murang’a County, over 30 local bean farmers recently took part in a unique participatory bean variety selection exercise at the KALRO Horticulture Research Institute in Kandara. The event aimed to involve farmers directly in the selection process, ensuring that the final varieties released to the market align with their preferences and farming needs.
The day’s activities began with the farmers registering and filling out questionnaires to provide researchers with valuable insights into their experiences and expectations regarding bean farming. This was followed by a hands-on variety selection process at the farm, where farmers assessed a range of breeding lines that had been planted on the site.
Using the ribbon method, the farmers evaluated the beans based on various criteria such as yield, disease resistance, and overall quality. They selected the 10 best-performing lines, which will now be closely analyzed by the research team. The exercise was not just about selecting high-yielding varieties, but also about understanding the specific needs and preferences of the farmers, from taste and cooking qualities to resistance to local pests and diseases.
The data gathered from this participatory selection process will be instrumental in identifying the top-performing varieties, which will be considered for future release. Researchers hope that this inclusive approach will ensure that the varieties released are well-suited to local conditions, improving both the productivity and sustainability of bean farming in the region. By involving farmers directly, the initiative emphasizes the importance of community-driven agricultural research in achieving long-term success.
