By Yohane Chideya, Wilson Nkhata, Clare Mukankusi & Jean Claude Rubyogo
Excitement surged through Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 11 to 15, 2024, as bean breeders from 31 countries across the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA-Africa) came together for the 2024 Bean Breeders Workshop. Organized by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (The Alliance) through PABRA, the event brought together experts from universities, seed companies, research institutions, and the private sector to collaborate on strategies aimed at advancing bean farming across the continent.
While common beans are a staple food for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa – contributing to both nutrition and income – their cultivation faces significant challenges such as low yields, pests and diseases, and climate variability. For breeders, the workshop offered a refreshing opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and collaborate on solutions to these persistent challenges. The event also provided a platform to review current bean market segmentation and product profiling, while covering topics like climate-smart agriculture, disease-resistant varieties, and advanced genetic research to improve bean cultivars.
Participants posing for a group photo during the workshop – Photo by Yohane Chideya
Senior Research Manager at South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Kingston Mashingaidze, highlighted in his opening remarks on how advanced technologies can boost bean production in Africa.
He stated: “In South Africa, dry beans are vital for food and nutrition security. However, crop production is often hindered by low yields due to various factors. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that our farmers achieve higher yields through the adoption of advanced technologies.”
MASHINGAIDZE: Adopting technologies is key in enhancing bean production – Photo by Yohane Chideya
Embracing technologies for improved bean production
A key highlight of the workshop was a visit to the Dry Beans Producers Organization (DPO) in Pretoria. At the advanced facility, DPO produces high-quality, disease-free certified bean seed, mainly red-speckled and small white beans. The breeders saw how the organization uses cutting-edge technologies in seed production and clean seed germination. The visit also allowed breeders to share knowledge on post-harvest handling and seed certification, offering valuable insights on improving bean seed quality across regions. These technologies, along with pest management techniques, are essential for meeting Africa’s growing bean production demands while ensuring environmental sustainability.
DPO staff (in green cap) demonstrating clean seed demonstration process to some of the breeders – Photo by Yohane Chideya
Bean seed sample packaged after being cleansed – Photo by Yohane Chideya
South Africa’s dry bean production, mainly in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, North-West, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal, has been limited. Over the past five years, it has averaged only 65,000 tons, less than 1% of total summer crop production. The decline is mainly due to diseases like Anthracnose, which severely affect yield and quality.
In his presentation on the state of bean farming in South Africa, DPO Managing Director Chris Kleingeld highlighted the importance of clean bean seed to combat diseases. He also noted that in 2023, DPO exported 8,000 tons of dry beans, reflecting the organization’s continued investment in modern research and breeding facilities for disease-free seed production and storage.
“We introduce two or three seed types for evaluation, after which they undergo screening before being marketed. To ensure disease-free and certified seed production, we distribute our efforts across three geographic locations to mitigate risk, while also testing the seeds in different regions. This process is vital for certification and has been key in managing pests and diseases,” explains Kleingeld.
Kleingeld (Second from right) briefing some of the visitors in one of the DPO’s warehouses – Photo by Yohane Chideya
Bodovololona Rabary, an academic researcher from the University of Antananarivo – Madagascar, commented: “Climate change has created numerous challenges. We need strategies to find solutions and ensure sustainability. It’s not just about having beans and a market.”
Stanley Tamusange Nkalubo, a Ugandan Plant Breeder, who is also serving as Director of Research at Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI) shared similar sentiments, adding that there is a lot that breeders can learn from DPO.
He said: “The process of cleaning up the seed to be disease-free is outstanding. On variety replacement, they have a variety that has existed for over 40 years. So, what we need is to identify a variety that is desirable on the market, and ensure it is clean, the seed is available and possibly improve it, without changing the name, so that it doesn’t distort the market.”
Strengthening Partnerships for a Sustainable Future
The week-long workshop underscored the importance of collaboration between research institutions, government bodies, and farmers to create sustainable solutions for the future of bean farming in Africa. By leveraging the expertise of bean breeders, agricultural scientists, and policy makers, the event served as a platform to strengthen partnerships and encourage the sharing of knowledge across the continent.
As part of the ongoing efforts to enhance bean production, participants also discussed the role of public-private partnerships in scaling up successful bean breeding and production models, ensuring that innovations are accessible to farmers across all regions of Africa.
PABRA also honored Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), Malawi’s Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) with awards. These prizes are designed to support and enhance breeding activities in their respective regions. Virginia Chisale, Bean Breeder at DARS, shared that part of the funds have been used to train technicians in data collection and analysis.
Jean Claude Rubyogo, PABRA Director and Global Bean Leader, emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to drive growth in bean farming. He shared two key messages: “First, the right product—because you can’t go wrong with the right product. Secondly, strong partnerships. I value the cooperation between ARC, DPO, and farmers.” He continued, “Looking ahead, we must reflect on how we engage with the private sector. If we want to transform our economies through beans, we must work closely with the private sector, encouraging them to expand, create jobs, and stimulate broader economic growth.”
Rubyogo (center) expressing appreciation to some of the breeders from Ethiopia and Malawi for their excellent work – Photo by Yohane Chideya
The Workshop, which emphasized collaboration and innovative breeding techniques to boost food security and economic growth, was a key step toward strengthening and making Africa’s bean industry more sustainable. Participants left with a renewed commitment to advancing bean farming, focusing on sustainability and resilience for Africa’s farmers. The workshop wrapped up with the launch of the PABRA Standard Operating Procedures, set to be released in early 2025, which include improvements in data management, yield trials, disease evaluation, and quality testing.