RESEARCH NOTE: BEAN GRAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND PRICES PAID AT RETAIL MARKETS IN UGANDA: IMPLICATIONS FOR BEAN BREEDING.

Bean grain size and color characteristics are investigated to determine their effect on prices paid at consumer markets in Uganda. A price equation that include measures of these characteristics along with market location, grain supply, and marketing month variables is estimated for fresh (high moisture) and dry beans. Neither grain size nor color are found to have a significant impact on either fresh or dry bean prices. Bean breeders should thus not use grain color or size as important indicators of consumer preferences unless strong tradition indicates otherwise. Variation in market prices paid is more a function of market location and month of sale than characteristics of the grain

The retail market for fresh and dry beans in Uganda: an investigation of cultivars in prices and implications for breeders

Twelve consumer retail markets in Uganda were studied 1998 in March and June of 1990 to determine the fresh and dry bean cultivars offered and to determine factors that explain variation in market prices. A total of 33 cultivars were offered in March and 30 in June in both the fresh and dry form. Kanyabwa and Nambale were the most frequently occurring cultivars. The revenue advantage of fresh over dry beans ranged from 30 to 279 percent across the cultivars sold. Farmers thus have a revenue incentive to supply fresh beans. Markets external to Kampala had significantly lower fresh, but not dry bean prices than Kampala markets. The bean grain characteristics size and color were not significant in explaining price variability. The implication for bean breeders in Uganda is that size should not be an important criterion for in a selection program and color should only be used when in conjunction with geographical area. The overall results suggest that preferences for beans, as reflected by consumer-prices paid, are a function of taste and grain size and color were not strong indicators or proxies of tast

A report on the socio-economics of bean production and marketing in Uganda: Information for research planning

Socio-economic research on bean production in Uganda is reviewed. Uganda was the third largest bean producer in Africa in the late 1980s with production at 272,000 tons. Beans were increasingly competitive with maize and all pulses, but were decreasingly competitive with cassava, sweet potatoes, and bananas. The most popular cultivars are Kanyebwa, Nambale, Mutike, and Ebyeru. The market for both fresh and dry beans is competitive and efficient. Grain size and color are not important characteristics in explaining consumers' preferences for beans. The lack of a seed industry will be a major constraint in getting seed of newly released cultivars to farmers. (AS)Se revisa la investigacion socioeconomica en produccion de frijol en Uganda. Este pais fue el tercer mayor productor de frijol en Africa a finales de los 80, con una produccion de 272,000 t. La competitividad del frijol con el maiz y otras leguminosas aumento, pero disminuyo con respecto a la yuca, la batata y el banano. Los cv. mas conocidos son Kanyebwa, Nambale, Mutike y Ebyeru. El mercado del frijol fresco y seco es competitivo y eficiente. El tamano y el color del grano de frijol no son caracteristicas importantes que expliquen las preferencias de los consumidores. La falta de una industria de semillas sera el primer limitante para que los agricultores obtengan semilla de cv. recien liberados. (RA- CIAT