Rwanda and Ethiopia have been singled out as leading in embracing production of high quality beans among 30 countries, according to an official from the Pan African Beans Research Alliance.

This came up during a meeting in Kigali, bringing together researchers from over 30 countries and their partners, with an aim of sharing ideas and experience on what others have achieved in increasing the production of the bean crop.

"Rwanda produces an average of 1.2 tonnes per hectare, up from about 0.5 in 2009, thanks to embracing research and new varieties that have led to increased production, while Ethiopia stands at 1.5 tonnes  per hectare,” Jean Claude Rubyogo, a researcher with the alliance said.

The alliance connects bean value chain actors including traders, researchers, donors, national agriculture systems, farmers’ organisations, among others.

Tanzania and Zambia harvest about 1.1 tonnes per hectare while other members of the alliance are still below 1 tonne per ha.

"The government rolled out about 15 new varieties of iron rich beans called Mushingiriro (climbing beans) across the country,” said Augustine Musoni, the head of  bean research programme at Rwanda Agriculture Board.

Iron beans are mainly recommended to pregnant women and children.

Rubyogo, whose alliance works closely with the Centre for International Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), said for five years since 2009, over 21 million people received new varieties of beans under the alliance above which exceeds the set target of 12 million.

He said over 200 varieties were distributed.

The Minister for Agriculture, Geraldine Mukeshimana, said extension programme for the bean crop, just like other crops, is part of supporting the agriculture sector that employs over 80 per cent of the population.