Jean Claude Rubyogo

Bean Seed Delivery for Small Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Power of Partnerships

New bean varieties translate into increased on-farm yields only if farmers obtain access to desired seed. Conventional models of legume seed delivery in Africa, centralized with the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), prove to be slow and of limited reach. This article describes a novel strategy for seed outreach, the Wider Impact Program, initiated within the 18 countries of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance. Select technical results (on bean seed quality, farmer-to-farmer diffusion, and new variety demand) informed the program design. However, it was significant modification in partnerships that served as the catalyst for achieving fast and widespread diffusion of new bean varieties. Redefining the divisions of labor within the seed supply chain, sharpening the role of each partner, and bringing diverse actors together provided the base for the networks enhanced impact. Assessments show 3.8 million households reached with new varieties from 2003 to 2005 in the six countries most closely monitored.

Effect of excessive and minimal soil moisture stress on agronomic performance of bush and climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract Water stress is a major crop production constraint for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L). The response of bush and climbing bean to excessive and minimal soil moisture at various plant growth stages was investigated under greenhouse for two growing periods; September–February 2016 and March–July 2016. The control consisted in watering with recommended rates for each plant growth stage. Two bean genotypes RWR2245 (bush bean) and MAC44 (climbing bean) were used for this study. The minimal soil moisture (drought stress) treatment consisted of withholding water supply, from the on-set of emergence, vegetative, flowering, pod setting and seed filling growth stages, up to the wilting point of plants. The excessive soil moisture (waterlogging stress) was achieved by saturating the soil on a daily basis for five successive days, starting from the on-set of the aforementioned plant growth stages. For each genotype, these treatments were replicated four times and arranged in a Completely Randomized Design. Drought stress accelerated the number of days to maturity whilst waterlogging stress tended to increase the number of days to maturity. Both stresses reduced the agronomic performance of both genotypes. However, pod setting and flowering were the most sensitive stages to drought stress and waterlogging stress, respectively.

Replication Data for: Using subsidised seed to catalyse demand-driven bean seed systems in Malawi

A six-step process in catalyzing and sustaining the PPP collaboration for producing and delivering improved bean seed was followed ; 1. Creating public awareness of released varieties. 2. Building partnerships to scale up supply. 3. Making basic seed of preferred varieties available to DAL and support services. 4. Scheduling activities around seed production, variety promotion, and seed distribution to a larger community for planting. 5. Participatory evaluation and performance tracking. 6. Generating and disseminating lessons learnt for scaling up. A follow up study was conducted in 2012 to assess farmers and actors along the bean seed supply chain satisfaction about the bean varieties and operations