Govt, stakeholders and PABRA join forces to transform bean value chains in Rwanda

By Yvonne Munyangeri, Eliud Birachi, Yohane Chideya & Jean Claude Rubyogo

“Beans are a crucial part of daily meals in Rwandan households. They are essential food,” says Dr. Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary of Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI).

His remarks highlight the importance of this legume in the country and the fact that Rwandans have the highest per capita bean consumptions in the world.

For the past 27 years, the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) under the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in collaboration with National Agriculture Research Systems (NARSs), has been driving changes in the bean value chain across Africa. In Rwanda, PABRA has supported the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) through various initiatives aimed at strengthening this value chain. Efforts have included germplasm exchange and capacity building for researchers, breeders, seed companies, grain traders, farmer organizations, cooperatives, and farmers.

As the leading consumer of beans per capita globally, with each individual consuming an average of 34 kg annually, beans play a vital role in Rwandan diets and hold significant social and economic value for smallholder farmers. The partnership between PABRA and the Government of Rwanda has resulted in the release of numerous adapted, nutritious, and market-preferred bean varieties, including 19 varieties introduced in 2021, eight of which are high in iron and zinc. Despite these advancements, the average bean crop yield per hectare in Rwanda remains low compared to other countries in the region, contributing to higher prices and reduced access to this nutritious food.

”RAB and the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT through PABRA have had a long and impactful partnership in bean research and development. The key impacts including the wider adoption of climbing bean varieties which covered 5% of bean production in early 1980s to about 45% in 2022. This adoption contributed to increased bean yield. However, currently the bean production is facing the impacts of climate changes coupled with land scarcity, it is timely for RAB and the Alliance & PABRA in partnership with value chain actors address the current challenges to increase yield and farmers’ profitability and satisfy the bean consumers,” highlighted Jean Claude Rubyogo, PABRA Global leader.

Bottlenecks Hampering the Bean Value Chain in Rwanda

Despite beans being a staple of Rwandan cuisine, the bean value chain faces significant challenges that hinder its growth compared to other agricultural sectors such as maize, rice, and soybeans. To address these issues, MINAGRI, in collaboration with PABRA, organized a three-day workshop from September 16 to 18, 2024, at La Palisse Hotel Nyamata, aimed at revitalizing the bean value chain.

The workshop had several key objectives: identifying bottlenecks affecting the bean value chain, exploring innovative solutions to enhance productivity, quality, and profitability for stakeholders at every stage of the chain, and fostering collaboration among participants to develop actionable strategies for implementing these solutions.

Various presenters emphasized the importance of using high-quality seeds, appropriate fertilizer, and establishing market linkages to boost the productivity of common beans. They noted that market availability significantly influences adoption rates and overall production.

In a collaborative discussion, participants—including government officials, local and international NGOs, researchers, universities, finance and insurance companies, as well as seed and grain producers—delved into the challenges facing the bean value chain and identified promising solutions. Key challenges highlighted included a lack of synergy among actors, unpredictable markets and poor market information, reliance on pre-saved seeds, and limited diversity in bean products.

The primary bottleneck identified was the low adoption of improved bean varieties that provide higher yields, greater nutritional value, adaptability, and resilience. MINAGRI’s Chief Technical Advisor, Dr. Alexandre Rutikanga, attributes this to farmers’ continued cultivation of old local bean varieties saved from previous seasons, which leads to decreased production.

“Beans have the potential to become the second commodity for export, but this is hindered by low production due to the continuous use of pre-saved old local bean seeds by farmers,” stated Rutikanga.

Apart from that, the second bottleneck identified was related to the lack of information at the farmer level, stemming from poor communication between seed producers and agro-dealers, who serve as key contacts for farmers. It was noted that the limited awareness of improved bean varieties among agro-dealers often results in a lack of these seeds available in their shops.However, several opportunities within the bean value chain were also recognized. These include the availability of high-yielding bean varieties, a robust local market (with up to 97% of bean production consumed domestically), well-coordinated cooperatives, and the establishment of a strong network of agro-dealers.

Revitalizing the Bean Value Chain in Rwanda

It was noted that only 39.7% of farmers use improved seeds, leaving a significant portion still relying on recycled local bean varieties, which results in low production levels. This indicates that the adoption of improved bean varieties remains low, highlighting the need for actionable solutions to engage farmers and enhance adoption rates. To address these challenges, a roadmap for revitalizing the bean value chain was developed, outlining both short-term and long-term solutions.

One immediate action involves mobilizing funding to invest in high-quality bulk seeds for distribution within the seed system. Improved seeds will be provided to large farmers, farmer groups, and cooperatives, who will then distribute them to smallholder farmers. This approach aims to enhance the availability and adoption of improved bean varieties, ultimately increasing production from 800 kilograms per hectare to 1.5 tons per hectare.

Long-term strategies include developing a comprehensive bean seed system and supply strategy, establishing a bean center, and creating a sustainable bean seed-grain payback model. Under this model, farmers would receive improved seeds at no cost and repay the equivalent of two seeds for every one received after harvest or make an equivalent cash payment. This strategy would involve collaboration among seed companies, agro-dealers, sector agronomists, farmer promoters, and local government officials to ensure a smooth and sustainable process. Additionally, the importance of market availability was emphasized, with schools and prisons identified as key market niches for bean grains. Seed producers were encouraged to invest in marketing and raise awareness about the availability of improved bean varieties.

Kamana, therefore called for ongoing collaboration to develop sustainable solutions for the bean value chain. He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the growth of this sector and praised the strong partnership between MINAGRI/RAB and CIAT/PABRA in revitalizing the bean value chain.