Beans Farming in Kenya: Varieties and Best Practices

A practical guide to growing common beans in Kenya — covering KALRO-released varieties, planting calendars, pest management and market linkages.

Introduction

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are Kenya's most important grain legume, grown by over 4 million smallholder households. They are both a food security crop and a cash crop, with Kenya producing over 500,000 tonnes annually.

Why Grow Beans?

High protein content (22%) - important food crop
Fixes atmospheric nitrogen - improves soil fertility
Short growing season (60-90 days)
Good market demand locally and regionally
Low input requirements

Recommended KALRO Varieties

High Altitude (1,500-2,200m):

Fahari - Red mottled, 75 days, angular leaf spot resistant
Lyamungu 85 - Brown, 80 days, drought tolerant
Angaza - Cream with red stripes, 85 days, high yielding

Medium Altitude (1,000-1,500m):

Rongai - White, 70 days, drought tolerant
Mwitemania - Red, 65 days, early maturing
GLP 2 - Brown, 75 days, widely adapted

Lowlands (below 1,000m):

Katumani - Small red, 60 days, very drought tolerant
Jesca - Cream with red eye, 65 days

Planting Calendar

Region	Long Rains	Short Rains
Central Highlands	March-April	October-November
Eastern	March-April	October-November
Western	February-March	August-September
Coast	March-May	October-December
Rift Valley	March-April	not applicable

Land Preparation

Plough to 15-20cm depth
Harrow to fine tilth
Soil pH: 5.5-6.5
Avoid waterlogged soils
Apply lime if pH below 5.5 (2 tonnes/ha)

Planting

Spacing: 40cm x 10cm (250,000 plants/ha) or 50cm x 20cm (100,000 plants/ha)
Seed rate: 50-80 kg/ha depending on seed size
Depth: 3-5cm
Inoculation: Treat seed with Rhizobium inoculant before planting (boosts nitrogen fixation)
Avoid planting in same field more than 2 seasons in a row

Fertilizer

Beans are legumes - fix own nitrogen if inoculated
Basal: DAP 50kg/acre at planting (for phosphorus)
NO nitrogen fertilizer needed if well inoculated
Foliar: Micronutrients at flowering (zinc, boron)

Weed Management

First weeding: 2 weeks after emergence (critical)
Second weeding: 4-5 weeks
Herbicides: Metribuzin (pre-emergence)

Pest and Disease Management

Pests:

Bean Fly (Ophiomyia) - Maggots attack seedling stems. Treatment: Seed dressing with Thiamethoxam or spray Dimethoate at emergence
Aphids - Transmit Bean Common Mosaic Virus. Treatment: Imidacloprid, Pymetrozine
Bruchids (storage pest) - Weevils destroy stored beans. Treatment: PICS bags, Actellic Super dust

Diseases:

Angular Leaf Spot - Most common, brown angular lesions. Treatment: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride. Use resistant varieties (Fahari, Angaza)
Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) - Mosaic patterns, stunting. Prevention: Certified virus-free seed, control aphids
Root Rot (Pythium/Fusarium) - Damping off of seedlings. Prevention: Well-drained soils, seed treatment

Harvesting

Maturity: 60-90 days (variety dependent)
Harvest when 90% of pods are dry and brown
Pull entire plant or pick individual pods
Dry to 13% moisture before storage
Yield: 500-1,500 kg/ha (depends on variety and management)

Post-Harvest and Storage

Thresh by beating on hard surface or tractor thresher
Clean and dry to 13% moisture
Use PICS hermetic bags for storage (no chemicals needed)
Store in cool, dry place (below 20C)
Keep 3-6 months without significant losses

Marketing

Sell at local markets, posho mills, urban markets
Export to Uganda, Tanzania, DRC
Buyer groups: East African Grains Council
Price: KSh 80-150/kg depending on variety and season

Profitability (1 acre)

Yield: 400-600kg
Revenue: KSh 48,000-90,000
Costs: KSh 15,000-25,000
Net profit: KSh 23,000-65,000