Grain Yield Performance of Biofortified Climbing Common Bean Genotypes (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Evaluated Across Different Agro-ecologies in Tanzania

Assessment study on yield performance and consumer preferences characteristics of iron and zinc fortified bean genotypes was conducted between 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons at different agro-ecologies of Tanzania. The objective of the study was to improve nutrition and income of smallholder farmers through growing and selling of high yielding and iron bean genotypes. The experiments consisted of five high iron enhanced climbing common bean genotypes namely:  MAC 44 (80.3 mg/kg), RWV (78 mg/kg), MAC9 (64 mg/kg), MAC49 (66.6 mg/kg) and Selian (35.2 mg/kg). These planting materials were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in Arusha at ARI-Selian farm, Lambo in Kilimanjaro, ARI-Uyole in Mbeya and in Kagera at ARI-Maruku. The sites ARI-Selian and Maruku represented mid altitude agro-ecologies, ARI Uyole (high altitude) and Lambo site is low agro-ecology. Grain yield and disease reaction scores data was collected and analysed using GenStat 15th edition software. Results showed significance difference (P≤0.05) for grain yield and diseases. Grain yield ranged from 1538kg/ha to 4314 kg/ha. Genotype RWV1129 produced 3091 kg/ha in 2014/2015 where as MACC44 yielded relatively higher (3530kg/ha than RWV1129 at Selian site in 2015/2016 season. The farmers’ participatory variety selection approach used in selecting of new improved bean genotypes depicted high yield, high market demanded, and resistant to diseases as the key important criteria. Genotypes MACC44 and RWV 1129 were the best genotypes accepted by farmers due to their high yield, and high market value.  Therefore, the study recommended them to be registered and released as nutritionally improved varieties for farmers’ cultivation and consumption thereby to relief the iron deficient vulnerable groups in Tanzania. Keywords: Climbing bean, Biofortification, Performance, Iron and Zinc DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-4-0

Accelerated variety turnover for open-pollinated crops in Tanzania - Phase 1 Key Findings

Open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), such as beans, sorghum, and groundnuts, are important for increased income, job creation, food security, and nutrition of both urban and rural households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the main constraint is underdeveloped seed systems, which contribute substantially to dwindling productivity among small-scale farmers due to limited access to reliable and quality planting materials. ACCELERATE is expected to accelerate varietal adoption and turnover in Tanzania by tapping into the power of large/small-scale or marketplace traders, and institutional seed buyers

Farm to plate: School feeding catalysing investments in high iron bean value chain in Tanzania

Adequate nutrition is essential for schoolchildren’s health and wellbeing. Most children who benefit from school feeding programmes could already be nutrient deficient, vulnerable or at risk. These children rely heavily on such programmes because these could either be the only meal they consume in the day. In response to the high prevalence rates of malnutrition, to maximize the impact of investments on negative nutrition outcomes for women and children, multi-sectoral interventions are proposed as long-term sustainable approaches to address malnutrition in Africa (Garrett et al., 2011). Anticipating the release of HIB varieties in 2018, by the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) in collaboration with PABRA, the two organizations co-developed an approach to promote use and consumption of high iron beans (HIBs) in schools and surrounding communities. The approached used a multi-stakeholder approach consisting of: Local Government Authorities (LGAs), schools, entrepreneurs (grain traders, food processors), inputs suppliers (seeds and agro inputs) and end-users

Planteome/CO_335-common-bean-traits: 1st release

<p>This is the first release of the Common Bean repository</p&gt