Kamau, M

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, . . .... _-------~~1cso~v ., (OtflOON HI5J(1P'I{~ C.'/Al_co/_ Oóc)ZZr SNAP BEAN SEED PRODUCTlON ANO DlSSEMINATlON CHANNF.J.S IN KENYA :; Merey Kamau* Occasional Publications Series, No. 22 * Kenya Agricultura! Research Institute 030061 06 )/Jt-> 119 T March 1997 \ I t ¡ \ Correct citation: M. Kamau, 1997. Snap bean seed production and dissemination channels in Kenya. Network on Bean Research in Africa, Occasional Publications Series, No. 22. CIAT, Kampala, Uganda. PREFACE This volume is the twenty-second in a working document series that serves research on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Africa. This publicarlon reports the findings of a study supported by the Eastern Africa Bean Research Network (EABRN) within its portfolio of research sub-projects deemed to be of importance to the region as a whole, and 18 one of a series of studies designed to improve understanding of bean seed systems and their performance. This Research was proposed and carried out by the Kenya Agricultura! Research Institute (KARI) at its National Horticulture Research Station, Thika. Besides Kenya, other member countries of EABRN were Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda; this network has since merged with that for the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. The Network on Bean Research in Africa serves to stimulate, focus and coordinate research efforts on common bean. The network is organized by CIAT in colJaboration with two interdependent sub-regional networks of national programs: the Eastem and Central Africa Bean Research Network (ECABREN) and the SADC BI'.an Research Network (SABRN) for southem Africa. Working documents inelude bibliographies, research reports and bean network discussion papers. These publications are in tended to complement two associated series of Workshop Proceedings and Reprints. Financial support for regional bean projects comes from the Canadian Intemational Development Agency (CIDA), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the United States Agency for lntemational Development (USAID). This publication was made possible through support provided to EABRN through a grant to CIA T by the Office of Agriculture, Bureau for Research and Development, U.S. Agency for Intemational Development (under Grant No. LAG-4I11-G-OO-2025-0). Further information on bean research in Africa is available from: Pan-Africa Coordinator, CIAT, P.O.Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda. Regional Coordinator, Eastern and Central Africa Bean Research Network, P.O. Box 2704, Arusha, Tanzania. Regiona! Coordinator, SADC Bean Network, P.O.Box 2704, Arusha, Tanzania. i \ \ SNAP SEAN SEED PRODUCTION AND DISSEMlNATION CHANNELS IN KENYA Merey W. Kamau Kenya Agricultural Research lnstitute, P.O. Box 220, Thika, Kenya ASSTRACT The aim of this sludy was lo identify conslraints lo farmers' use of certified snap bean seed in Kenya. Surveys were condueted lo ínvestigale the production, distribution and use of snap bean seed in major growing areas of Ihe country. Only four snap bean varieties were being grown by the farmers interviewed, although 33 varieties are produced in the country. Farmers re1y on various sources for seed, Ihe mosl frequenlly mentioned sources being exporting company agents and retailers selling seed from two major companies. Snap bean farmers also produce their own seed, ei!her for sale lo olher growers or for Iheir own use. A vailability of seed and seed quality were !he mosl important reasons given by farmers for seed source preference. Farmers face thrce major constraints in retation lo seed: unavailability of seed, poor seed quality and high prices. Suggestions for ímproving seed production and distribution are made. Index words: Kenya, snap beans, seed production, seed distribulion INTRODUCTION Farmers who sow poor quality, non-certified seed stand lo loose no! only Ihe cost of seed, but also the value of Ihe expected crop due lo seed-borne diseases, low plant vigor and poor plant stand. Seed quality, measured by seed germination percentage, emergence and vigor, can therefore be a decisive factor in the profit or 105s of an enterprise (Mathenge, 1974). The low quality and unavailabilily of seed have bcen identified as the principal constraints 10 rapid diffusion of new varieties and improvemenl of crop produclion in developing countries (Mathenge, 1974). Al!hough snap (or Freneh) beans have become one of Kenya,s major foreign exchange eamers, farmers stíll achieve relalively low yields in comparison lo other snap bean producing countries (Emery et al., 1992). Studies on the snap bean induslry in Kenya show Ihe use of poor quality seed and Ihe unavailability of clean, certified seed as major constraints lo the improvement of snap bean production (Salasya, 1989; Wanjiru, 1992). The aim of !his study is therefore lo idenlify factors which limil the use of certified seed by snap bean farmers and 10 suggesl possible solutions. MEmODS Various surveys were carried out by Iwo socio-economisls belween November, 1993 and April, 1994 lo investigale Ihe productíon, dislribulion and use of snap bean seed. AlI snap bean pod producing dislricts in Kenya were covered, name1y: Vihiga, Bungoma, Meru, 1 Kirinyaga, Maranga, Machakos and Kiambu Districts. Three separate questionnaires dealing with production, distribution and seed use were developed and information on production and distribution of seed was sought from registered seed companies, contracted seed growers, seed retailers and snap bean exporting agents. Seventy snap bean farmers in 7 districts1 were interviewed on seed sources, varieties planted, prices, household consumption and constraints lo seed acquisition. FINDINGS Seed Production. Al the time of the study, there were six registered snap bean seed companies: Kenya Seed Company, E.A. Seed Company, Kenya Highland Seed Company, Kipol Seed Company, Hortitech and Royal Sluis Seed Company. AH companies, with the exception of Royal Slui5, produce snap bean seed by contracting out-growers. Royal Sluis imports seed from its mother company based in the Netherlands. The total area that was contracted by the seed companies [or the purpose oC seed multiplication in !he 1990-91 season was 1855 hectares (see Appendix 1). The principal snap bean seed growing areas in Kenya are Kajiado, Meru, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, Nakuru and Machakos Districts. Seed is grown under rainfed conditions in a1l the areas visited. Companies provide seed íor bulking lo out-growers on credit and, in some cases, the package also includes fertilizers and pesticides. In 1993-94, 33 varieties oí snap bcans were registered with !he National Seed Quality Control Service (NSQCS). After the seed is delivered at the company's depot, it is !reated and packaged for distribution. The farmers are paid Ksh 14-24 (1993 exchange rate: Ksh67 to US$I) per kilogramme of seed, Table 1: Utilization of snap beans by producing farmers (percentage) I Distrlct Harvest Cor Harvest for lIome consumption pods seed oC dry snap bean Vihiga 100 O O Bungoma 100 O O Meru 100 O O Kirinyaga 75 25 33 Muranga 89 11 32 Machakos 75 25 50 Kiambu 100 O O 1 The sample distribulÍon is as follows: Murang'a: 12, Kirinyaga: 12, Ki.mbu: 10, Mem: 9, Vihiga: 4; Machakos: 4; Bungoma: 3. 2 Snap bean farmers also produce seed either for theif own use Of for sale 10 other farmers. However, as Table 1 shows, relatively few farrners produce seed. Farmers normally produce snap bean pods, bu! when the markel price for pods falls it makes their harvest uneconomical. In this case, farmers opt 10 uprrot the crop or leave it lO mature and produce seed. This implies that seed production is secondary lO bean pod production. Table 1 also suggests that the seed produced is no! for consumption but mainly for planting purposes. Seed distribution. Seed is channelled from producers to farmers througb formal and informal channels, as shown in Figure l. Distribution through seed companies. Kenya Seed Company and E.A Seed Company are the major snapbean seed merchants. These two companies supply 65% of the farmers with seed packed in 1, 2 and 50 kg packets. They channel their seed mainly through Kenya Graln Growers Cooperative Union (KGGCU), which has branches in al! agricultura! areas of Ihe country. Wholesalers based in Nairobi are also key players in distributing seed. The major problem with the distribution of seed through KGGCU is that sorne ofthe Union's shops in major snap bean areas are nol easily accessible lo farmers because they are located only in large town centres. The other seed companies market their seed through Ihe Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) and snap bean exporting companies. HCDA buys snap bean seed from seed companies for distribution lo farmer groups throllgh their selling centres, which are located al agricultura! extension offices and chiefs' camps. Snap bean exporting companies avail the seed 10 farmers through their buying agents who distribute seed on credit lO women's groups or farmer co-operalives. Since Ihis seed is supplied al the farm leve!, il is obtained al no additional coSI for transportation. Distribution through farmers. Farmers seU seed 10 olher farmers or 10 local shopkeepers. The advantage of this system is that no additional transportation cosls are incurred by farmers. Farmers' seed sources. Farmers rely on various seed sources, as Table 2 indicates. The most frequently mentioned sources were snap bean exporting company agents followed by retailers selling seed from Kenya Seed and E.A. Seed Companies. Exporting company agents, HeDA and Hortiquip, are the only seed sources which supply seed to farmers on credit. 3 Figl: Snap Bean Seed Dissemination Channels Snap Bean Grower Imported~ ~ Registered Seed Company Regional Depot Retailers in Other Towns & Shoppin n Company's ~ ~;' i Agent I Chiefs i or DAEO'1 L~_" -'-'-'-~+r¡~'-- ,~' , " : ! ~t-1--- : e"iP o;ce ' t y , i i Women Groups and Farmer Socictie_s ________ 1 i ! y ty_i ___ ~;~~~J t yy \l. ¡ ',)o-r! _-L~ Individual Farm_c_rs_____ _=:J-< . ) cort\r,.,¿ Swcl ,... ¡';"""'~"hr>«l 5tcd HeDA tl:>rti<~Jrut..r Cror.Ocvd.>¡w.rN Atu>CY VAro, Oivi,;on.J "trirulNnt e..Ú:n.ion Officor 4 Table 2: Snap bean seed sources used by fanners over two seasons, 1993 Seed sources Fonnal sources Exporting company agents* E.A. Seed Kenya Seed Local shop HCDA'" Hortiquip* Hortitech Infonnal sources Own stock Neighbor Frequency 17 15 15 10 9 4 3 9 9 *Have contraet arrangements with farmers for snap pod productioll Farmers' seed sources vary by district. Survey data suggest that exporting company agents supply seed to more districts than other companies. It is notable that exporting company agents, local shopkeepers and neighbors provided the widest coverage across snap bean growing districts. In 1993 farmers in Vihiga (n =4) and Bungoma (n=3) Districts obtained their seed from only one source (Hortiquip and HCDA, respectively), in contrast lo farmers in other districts who relied on several sources. Farmers in Meru obtained seed from HeDA (n=5), company agents (n=2) and E.A. Seed (n 1). Farmers in Kirinyaga depended on agents (n=5), Kenya Seed (n=3), E.A. Seed (n=2) and local shops (n= 1). The breakdown among farmers in Muranga was as follows: 9 farmers, respectively, bought seed from E.A. Seed and Kenya Seed, 5 fmm agents, and 3 respectively from Hortitech and shops. Table 3 shows farmers' reliance on informal sources by district. Table 3: Own stock Neighbours Fanners' use of informal snap bean seed sources in five Districts over two seasons, 1993 (frequency) Meru 3 1 Kirinyaga Muranga 5 3 5 o 4 Machakos Kiambu O 1 , " 1 O " \ , , Reasons for fanners' seed source preferences. Table 4 shows lhe reasons given by farmers for lheir preference of seed from particular seed sources. A vailability of seed and seed quality are the most important eriteria considered by snap bean farmers in their choice of seed source. Notably, farmers eited these two factors as lhe major seed related constraint. Table 4: Reasons given by fanners for seed source preferences Reason for preference Seed is readily available Seed is of a good quality Price of seed is cheaper Seed is free Advised by extension agent Frequency mentioned 30 24 15 3 l Note: Ns are larger Ihan Ihe sample size due lo mulliple answers Snap bean seed constraints. Farmers face three major eonstraints m relation to seed: unavailability of seed, poor seed quality and high prices (Table 5). Table 5: Snap bean seed constraints as perceived by fanners Constraint Frequency Unavailability of seed Poor quality of seed High price of seed Note: farmers gave multiple answers 36 34 23 Availability. The problem of seed unavailability oceurs when a farmer intends to plant either eertified seed or new snap bean varieties. New varieties are only obtainable from sorne snap bean exporting eompany agents, while eertified seed of Monel, for example, is only available in large towns. Consequently, seed is not readily available to the majority of farmers. Seed is also unavailable during the off-season period, when demand is high due to the faet that farmers try to take advantage of high market prices for ~nap beans at this time. The varieties observed in farmers' fields were Monel and to a lesser extent an improved Monel commonly ealled "Super Monel". Only a few farmers grew new varieties referred to as "HLC" and "Claudia" . 6 Quality. Tbe quality problems faced by farmers inelude: low germination percentages, off types, low yields and pods which do not conform to market standards (Le thick pods, curl y tips), Farmer management of non-certified seed was aIso investigated (Table 6). While seed selection is more commonly practiced by more farmers than seed dressing, considerable varíatíon exists between districts. Table 6: Treatment of non-certified snap bean seed in selecíed districts (percentage) District Kirinyaga Muranga Macbakos Kiambu Seed selection 58 50 75 40 Seed dressing 50 18 50 20 Pricing. The price of snap bean seed varíes mainly accurding to its source ralber Iban 10 its point of sale. Price also varíes by varíety. For example, Monel, tbe commonly grown varíety. costs considerably less than two new varíeties, Claudia and Gloria, regardless of its source and grade (Table 7). Seed from certified sources is generally priced bigher Iban farmers' seed: Ksh 30-60/kg more for Monel and by Ksh lOO-150/kg for new varíeties. Farmers try to buy seed on credit 10 case tbe casb constraint caused by bigh seed prices. Nearly a quarter of farmers interviewed (37%) received credit for snap bean growing, mainly in form of seed (Table 8). Table 7: Price range of snap bean seed (Ksh/kg) Source Certified source Neighbor Local shop Monel 60-80 20-30 35-45 7 New variety 300-350 200 Table 8: Forms of credit received by snap bean fanners Credit Fonn Seed Proteetíve chemicals Fertilizer Note: sorne farmers received multiple forros of credit Frequency 21 12 9 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The factors which affeet farmers' deeisions on the type and source of snap bean seed to plant include: uncertainty about the availability of good quality seed when required; uncertaínty about seed quality; pricing of seed, especially from certified seed sources; and lack of credit facilities to facilitate the purchasing oí high quality seed. Sorne strategies that could be used to encourage farmers to plant seed from certífied seed sources are: 1. efforts to increase farmers' awareness of the benefits of certified seed through, for example, dernonstrations and field days; 2. making certified seed easily accessible 10 farmers (eg through local kíosks) and makíng new varieties easily available by using more effeetíve seed dissemination teehniques; 3. developing seed production and distribution rnethods which would eventually reduce the cost of seed, hence makíng it affordable to farmers; 4. increasing the availability oí credit to more íarmers. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, 1 am very grateful to the Eastero African Bean Research Nelwork (EABRN) Steering Comrnittee for allocating the funding to Ihis study, and a1so to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) for facilitating the smooth exeeution of the research. Secondly, 1 would like to thank officers from the Kenya Agricultura! Research Instítute (KARI), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Marketing and the seed companies for their assistance in the data coIleetion exercise. This publieation was made possible through support provided to EABRN through a grant to CIAT by the Office of Agriculture, Bureau for Research and Development, U .S. Agency for International Development (under Grant No. LAG·4111-G-OO-2025-0). The opíníons expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the contributing donor organization. 8 Appendix 1: Area under snap bean seed by variety and producing company, 1990-92 Variety Kenya Highland: 1990-91 Super Micco Kaki Cropper Content Bingo Agora Bano Blue royal TDF Hortitech: 1990-91 MT86 Naitec N90 Red beauty Simpson Solare Tilla Vernadon Contender 1990-92 Green Tec Purple Tec Strings bean white Tech 86 E.A. Seed: 1990-92 Monel Kenya Seed: 1990-91 Super Mishiri Skill Kipol Seed: 1990-91 Extra Fine K Katumani B II Kipol Red Dark Red Kidney Light Red Kidney 1992 Extra fine KA Extra fine KB 9 Acreage 162 64 283 125 220 10 273 114 130 357 8 685 79 64 6 8 30 107 79+ 18 2 14 l 259 4.5 7.5 147 16 10 10 10 11.5 1.5 \ REFERENCES Emery G. C., J. Belt and G. Henry. 1992. International snap bean seed production and distribution. In: G. Henry and W. Janssen (eds.), Snap beans in the developing world: Proceedings of an international conference held in Cali, Colombia, 16-20 October 1989. CIAT Publication No. 195: 277-293. Cali. Mathenge F.N. 1974. Introduction to quality control. A paper presented in a FAOISIDA seed training course in Kenya. Salasya, B.S. 1989. An Economic Analysis of the Major Factors Influencing Export of French Beans from Kenya. M.Sc. thesis, University of Nairobi. Wanjiru, M. W. 1992. An Economie Analysis of Small-seale French Bean Production in Central Province of Kenya. M.Se. thesis, University of Nairobi. 10 

Snap bean seed production and dissemination channels in Kenya

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Snap bean seed production and dissemination channels in Kenya

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