Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Farmers around Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions have acknowledged to have learned good practices on bean cultivation through demonstration plots established by the Agricultural Research Institute TARI Selian in their areas.

Zuhura Gwandu, a farmer from the village of Endanoga, Babati District, Manyara Region, said that through the demo plots farmers have learned the use of improved common beans seeds and also the correct use of pesticides.

"We have also learned about improved common beans which are said to be nutritious as they have added minerals of zinc and iron, we didn't know about them but as of now we have this knowledge so next season we will plant them and follow the best principles of good bean cultivation", emphasized Zuhura.

And Ayoub Jeronimu, a farmer from the village of Endanoga, Babati District, Manyara Region, added that they have been planting beans by throwing seeds so they find themselves using a lot of seeds.

"We have seen on the demonstration farm how to plant in lines, we are used to just pouring seeds as the cow plows, as a results a lot of seeds are used but looking at how it has been done at the demo we will follow the same steps", added Yeronim.

On his part, a Researcher from the Agricultural Research Institute TARI Selian Beans Division Alexander Fayu said that through the Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Program (TFSRP/PforR) they have established demonstration plots in Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara regions to distribute variety of technologies on bean cultivation.

Fayu said that they have established four demonstration plots in Mbulumbulu ward Karatu district in Arusha region; also three demonstration plots at Galapo village, one Babati and one Dareda in Babati district, Manyara region also in Kilimanjaro region Siha district at Mitimirefu village there are five demonstration plots.

"In those farms, we have demonstrated a new common bean seed and improved bean seeds, also farmers will learn the best agricultural practices  especially the correct use of pesticides, planting in lines and spacing so  that our farmers will have the opportunity to observe these technologies and transfer them to their farms", emphasized Fayu. .

He added that the new improved common bean seed placed in the fields is NUA 64 seed, as well as other seeds such as TARI Bean 6 and Selian 13 which have been supplemented with iron and zinc to improve nutrition for farmers.