With this new bean, I harvest tonne per acre
Timothy Murega looks keenly at a new bean variety growing well on his farm in Solai, Nakuru County. He is searching for any early traces of disease. So far, there is none.
Murega is among farmers who have been selected to grow the dolicho beans, an improved variety of black beans more resilient to changing weather patterns. It also has higher yields.
“I like this new variety. I have noticed that it can survive in almost all weather patterns. It also yields more. With the traditional type one harvests about four to five bags of 90 kilos per acre but with this one can produce up to 1 tonne per acre,” he says. A 90-kilo bag sells at between Sh8,000 to Sh13, 000.
Lead researcher
Prof Miriam Kinyua, of Eldoret University is the crop breeder. The project is supported by United Kingdom Trust - Kirkhouse Trust. The researcher is working with farmers like Murega to multiply the improved dolichos bean variety in the county. Dolichos has been approved by Kenya Plant health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) the regulatory body dealing with seeds certification.
The positive traits
Prof Kinyua says the variety is drought-tolerant, highly nutritious and tolerant to pests and diseases, unlike the traditional type.
“Dolichos bean variety does well even with erratic weather patterns experienced across the country,” she says.
So far, Prof Kinyua has released four varieties of dolichos that can be grown in Machakos, Meru, Tharaka Nthi, Kakamega, Lamu, Nakuru and Nyeri among other counties.
They are Eldo KT Black 1, Eldo KT Back 2, Eldo KT Cream and Eldo KT Maridadi adapted in all weather. The beans are black, creamish brown and speckled respectively.
How she started
The don began researching on the variety in 2007. First, she characterised all different varieties of traditional dolichos that was being grown by farmers across the country.
After several laboratory tests, in 2013, she managed to get best variety that were placed in national performance and adaptability trials.
The trials were done in farmers’ field in Western, Eastern, Eldoret and Nakuru.
In 2015, the four dolicho varieties were released by Kephis and gazetted.
“I have walked with Kephis in production of the bean variety. They have been inspecting farms and national performance trials before approving the variety.”
She adds: “I have done first round of breeders and I am now growing second round that is packed by Kephis.”
They were taken to different areas where farmers selected them in national performance trails.
To meet high demand for seeds by farmers, the crop breeder is doing seeds multiplication in Solai in Subukia Sub County, Nakuru and Eldoret.
Soil preparation
For those interested, the seed varieties are available at Eldoret University Seeds unit.
She says if grown on an acre, one gets an average 1 tonne (11 bags of 90 kilos) compared to old variety that used to produce between 4 to 5 bags.
The variety grows at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level, with temperatures of between 24 and 29 degrees for proper flowering and ponding.
Growing it
Before planting the bean, Prof Kinyua advises farmers to plough land, and harrow. Soil preparation should start before main rains to provide conducive seed germination and plant development.
Early land preparation also help aerate the soil, control weed, improve filtration and provide temperatures for soil for ease germination.
“Ploughing of the land is encouraged to make the soil fine...,” she says.
Farmers are too encouraged to plant on onset of main rains to curb pests and diseases.
Unlike other crops that require fertilisers for health crop, the bean variety fixes its own nitrogen in the soil. However, farmers can apply manure and fertilisers, if need be.
After between 4 to 5 days, the bean sprouts. The farmer is therefore expected to scout for pests and diseases. In case of infestation, the farmer should contact agricultural experts on recommended chemicals.
First weeding is done after two to three weeks after germination. Weeding should be done with keenness to avoid tempering with roots.
Hand weeding is encouraged though recommended pesticides can be used.
“Weeding at flowering stage is discouraged to avoid shedding of flowers,” she adds. To control pests and diseases, the field should be kept clean. The pests to look out for include bean aphid, pod borers, white flies and bruchids.
To maintain moisture in the soil and retain capillarity, farmers can practice mulching. Dolichos matures between three and half months and four and half months, depending on the type.
Harvesting is done by pulling the plants and threshed by a handle or a thresher.
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