Beans Farming In Kenya | Best Beginner Guide To Start Farming

Here is a beginner friendly guide for beans farming in Kenya from scratch to making millions. Cost of production, types of beans, planting, fertilizer, harvesting, yield per acre, markets, profits, and many more has been covered.

Beans farming in Kenya is one of the major farming practices most farmers are involved in. Most bean farmers are in small-scale farming production, with women engaging in the business faster than men. Beans farming is practiced both in rural and urban areas of Kenya.

Through the ministry of agriculture, the Kenyan government has come up with an improved variety of beans.

Benefits Of Improved Beans Varieties

Some of the benefits of improved beans varieties include:

It has a high disease resistance rate
An excellent adaptation to Kenyan soils in a climatic condition
Can survive in extreme temperature

Key tip for beans farming for beginners is to identify the types of beans they are interested in for the farming practice. For familiarity, purposes the farmers should attend bean farming trainings and seminars.

More so, you are encouraged to visit commercial farmers and learn practically the farm practices. Knowledge and skills about the business help the farmer develop a proper plan on the sequences of activities and what to expect.

How To Start Bean Farming In Kenya

The farming area should be prepared and furrowed before the rains begin. Since the planting season of beans is always during the onset of rains.

Beans give better yields in summer and spring seasons and soils with good drainage. Higher temperatures may hinder the growth of the bean plant. Likewise, waterlogged areas do no support the development of beans to maturity.

Choosing Your Bean Farming Method

There are two kinds of beans farming methods that farmers consider when planning to start bean farming.

1. Bush Beans Farming

Bush beans are ancient old varieties that have lasted in the farming system for a decade. They are well adapted to the climate hence can grow anywhere. They also extend to a minimum height and do not need support to maintain the erect posture.

2. Pole Beans Farming

Pole beans, on the other hand, cannot maintain an upright posture without a support system. The beans can grow to a maximum height of 8m. Therefore, the support system should be 10m and above.

Framers can use trellis and poles for the beans. Some farmers may go ahead and place a chicken wire mesh on top to enhance twisting.

Type Of Beans In Kenya

There are several types of beans grown in Kenya according to the farmer’s preference. The most common types of beans grown in Kenya are;

Yellow Beans

Yellow beans come yellow. They are characterized by high nutrient rates and are preferred in most Kenyan homesteads. Yellow beans are prepared as salads and stews and soups that can be taken with other meals or taken as single meals.

Apart from the natural, tasty nature of yellow beans, there are other dietary benefits to consumers. Diabetic patients with insulin complications are advised to feed on the yellow beans as they tend to regulate blood sugar.

Rosecoco Beans

The beans are red with a darker background. There are several kinds of Rosecoco beans, such as; some smaller in size than others; some may be bright-colored while others are very pale. The beans have prevailed in the agricultural field for a very long time.

Rosecoco beans are characterized by high resistance to extreme weather conditions. Among other beans, the red beans resist more diseases than any different varieties. The Rosecoco beans mature from 60 to70 days.

The bean variety is grown in most parts of the country, with most families preparing it as a stew. The beans are eaten as a single meal with the accompaniment of a carbohydrate.

Soya Beans

Soya beans are rated among the most expensive plant proteins. Soybeans manifest in many colors, including white, black, brown, among other features depending on the kind.

The beans are among the few plant protein seeds that also produce healthy edible oil. The bean variety can survive in regions with extreme weather conditions. Not so many parts of the country are involved in soya beans farming.

Soya beans mature from 65 to 80 days, depending on the region.

French Beans

French beans are also known as green beans, among other names. They are planted both for local consumption and export. Most of the farmers who deal with French beans for export have their exports within Nairobi and the surrounding counties to access the airport.

For the export of the beans, farmers have to consult the export agents on the kind to produce and the expectations least they are rejected. There are other areas with French beans farming sold in the Kenyan market for local consumption.

The grading system determines the price of French beans according to quality. French beans with extra fine pods are the most expensive, followed by those with fine pods, the bobby beans. Bobby beans are rated with the lowest quality but still meet the French been categories.

Conclusion

Beans farming in Kenya is one of the most successful farming practices, with farmers spread out all over the country except arid areas. Bean farming has more producers in small-scale production than large-scale productions. Farmers can engage in full-time bean farming or as a side hustle. There are so many success stories from bean farmers who have contributed to the country’s stability.

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