Farmers take lead in shaping Malawi's next generation of bean varieties
Nearly 200 farmers from Ntchisi, Mzimba, Rumphi and Dedza districts in Malawi recently participated in bean variety selection exercises to help researchers identify climate-resilient, nutritious and market-friendly beans that meet farmers' needs.
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Farmers take lead in shaping Malawi's next generation of bean varieties
Nearly 200 farmers from Ntchisi, Mzimba, Rumphi and Dedza districts in Malawi recently participated in bean variety selection exercises to help researchers identify climate-resilient, nutritious and market-friendly beans that meet farmers' needs.
Farmer involvement defines the approach of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) program of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ensuring that innovation is shaped by those who grow, consume, and market beans. Traits such as drought tolerance, climate resilience, faster cooking times, improved nutrition, desirable taste, and strong market appeal are all considered through the lens of farmers.
In Malawi, where beans are cultivated by more than 80 percent of smallholder farmers alongside maize, farmer perspectives are especially important. It is against this backdrop that nearly 200 farmers from Ntchisi, Mzimba, Rumphi, and Dedza districts recently participated in a Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) exercise under the Growth Poles Initiative led by Palladium. Their involvement is helping researchers identify bean varieties that best match farmers' production needs and market preferences.
The exercise brought together 197 farmers, including 132 women and 65 men, highlighting the central role women play in bean production, seed selection, household nutrition, and marketing. Participants evaluated promising sugar and canning bean varieties under real farming conditions, providing critical feedback that will help guide the advancement and eventual release of varieties with the greatest potential for adoption.