Agricultural Research Institutes – Selian, Uyole and Maruku Released Nine (9) Improved Common Bean Varieties in January 2018.

Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plays a principal role in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Tanzania as food security crop and source of income. It is the leading leguminous crop, accounting for 78% of land under legumes (FAO, 2013). Per capita bean consumption is 19.3kg, contributing 16.9% protein and 7.3% calorie in human nutrition and 71% of leguminous protein in diets. It is estimated that over 75% of rural households in Tanzania depend on beans for daily subsistence (Grisley, 1991; Rugambisa 1990 & Kalyebara et al., 2008).