| dc.description.abstract | A Participatory Rural Appraisal was carried out in October 1999 in Gichera sub-location in
Runyenjes in Embu, Kenya The aim of the survey was to identify the major constraints faced by
bean farmers in this location. The bean production problems were listed by the community and
ranked in order of importance using a pair wise matrix. The constraints were poor or low soil
fertility, bean diseases, insect pests and poor road network among others.
The PRA was followed up by administration of a semi-structured questionnaire. Based on
responses by farmers to the questionnaire, bean diseases were ranked (87.5 %) as the most
important constraint contributing to low bean yield in the area This was followed by low yielding
bean varieties (62.5 %), low soil fertility (52.5 %), insect pests (50 %), lack of quality seed (17.5
%), low market prices (12.5 %) and low or high rainfall (10%). It was established that most farmers
in the area grow beans in association with maize.
Seed health tests were carried out in the laboratory using blotter and agar methods. The
seed was obtained from farmers who had been provided •• vith improved bean lines from Kabete
campus. In blotters test (non-sterile seeds), Alternaria spp, Fusarium spp and Pythium spp were
isolated from the farmers' seeds. Seeds originating from seed producers had significantly (P=0.05)
lower infections of Fusarium spp compared to those produced by subsistence farmers. In the
blotters test (sterile seed), Alternaria spp, Fusarium spp, M phaseolina and Pythium species were
isolated from the seeds. The level of contamination by Fusarium spp and Pythiuta spp was
significantly (P=O.05) higher on seeds produced by subsistence farmers than those from seed
producers. In the agar test (sterilized seeds), Alternaria spp, Fusarium spp, Pythium spp,
Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and M phaseolina were isolated from the farmers seeds. Seed
producers seed for line NO.B (0 %) was significantly (P= 0.05) different from subsistence farmers
seed (1.4 %).
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In the grow-on test, Fusarium spp incidence was significantly higher in M22 (18.7 %) and
No.B (20 %) at P=0.05 for pre-extension farmers seed than seed producers seed (M22 -3.3 % and
No.B- 6.7 %). Seed quality tests were carried out on seed that was obtained from farmers who had
participated in seed production at farm level. The threshing method did not have any clear-cut
effect on the quality of seed. The percentage germination decreased with increase in storage time.
It was concluded that bean diseases was a major factor limiting bean production in the area.
Most of bean seeds come from farmers' own seed (75 %). This implies that most farmers use
uncertified seed that is of poor quality and thus the need to train farmers in production of quality
seed. Fusarium root rot was the most important seed borne disease and Fusarium oxysporumfs.p
phaseoii was identified. | en |
