Estimation and characterization of bean seed demand in Angonia district of Mozambique

This report highlights findings of a study that was carried out to characterize and estimate the demand for common bean seed in Angonia District of Tete Province in Mozambique. The study gathered information on the area planted to the common bean annually, engaged key informants and surveyed of 332 households in eight Localidades between April and May 2015. According to the study, 99.7 % heads of households depend on agriculture as the main occupation; working on average family farm size of 1.4 ha, often augmented with 0.06 ha available through leasing annually. In addition to family-owned farms, husbands and wives solely own 30% and 26% respectively. The main crops grown in Angonia District in descending order of prevalence, were maize (97%) common bean (94%), soybean (59%) and groundnut (45%). Other crops grown included Irish potato, cowpea and tobacco. The common bean has a long history of cultivation in the district; mean bean production experience of participating farmers was 16 years

How do farmers and seed producers get information and provide feedback on varieties in the public domain: the case of common bean in eastern Zambia?

A Study conducted by the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) and Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)A study was conducted in 2015 to investigate the channels used by farmers and seed producers to access information on bean varieties in the Eastern Province of Zambia, particularly in Chadiza, Chipata, Lundazi and Vubwi districts. Stakeholders, key informants and a sample of 300 bean-producing households were interviewed. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted in Chadzombe and Chiwoko Agricultural Camps to contextualize the survey responses. The 300 households produced beans under rain-fed and irrigated wetland conditions, and also grew maize (87 %) and other legumes such as groundnut (66 %) and soybean (61%). Concerning bean production, the majority of respondents (88%) grew only local varieties while 6 % grew only improved varieties, 6% grew both varieties and the remainder (less than 1 %) were unware whether their varieties of choice were local or improved