Tropical Grain Legumes in Africa and South Asia: Knowledge and Opportunities
A report that brings together the information required to develop an effective research and development strategy for tropical legumes, reviewing trends, research impacts, and constraints in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Relative importance of common bean attributes and variety demand in the drought areas of Kenya
The findings presented in this study reveal that varietal adaptation to environmental stresses should also strive to reduce cooking time, as well as enhance keeping quality and grain color to improve benefits for the poor. The study argues that prioritizing the improvement of production attributes as a short-term goal seems an efficient strategy when multi-attribute based breeding is a long process.
Market access, intensification and productivity of common bean in Ethiopia: a microeconomic analysis
This study attempts to understand the factors that influence input use and productivity during the cultivation of common bean in Ethiopia, critical for food security and agricultural sustainability.
A cost-benefit analysis of farmer-based seed production for common bean in Kenya
This study examined the profitability of farmer-based common bean seed production in Kenya. The principal finding was that farmer-based common bean seed production was a profitable enterprise and was less sensitive to price fluctuations.
A systems and partnership approach to agricultural research for development – Lessons from Ethiopia
A paper presenting a methodology based on the innovation systems approach that has been used in Ethiopia to facilitate agricultural innovations and the diffusion of new technologies, illustrated with experiences in scaling up three grain legumes.
Improving Common Bean Productivity: An Analysis of Socioeconomic Factors in Ethiopia and Eastern Kenya – Baseline Research Report
Baseline report summarizing research and systematically assessing the smallholder farmer context and the constraints that hinder common bean productivity improvements in Eastern Kenya and Ethiopia.
Lessons from Two Years of Tropical Legumes II: Second Annual Review and Planning Meeting 16–20 November 2009, Bamako, Mali
Lessons from two years of the Tropical Legumes II Project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), which aims to bring about significant increases in the productivity and production of tropical legumes to improve farmers’ income, nutrition quality, and livelihoods in the drought-prone areas of SSA and South SA.
