During the long rains season (March – July 2014), 5 demo plots were established in the Northern province of Rwanda in collaboration with N2Africa partner DRD and farmers’ associations and individual farmers as well, with the objective of promoting the best method of staking and the use of inoculants on climbing bean. Results have showed a good response to inoculants in all sites and on all varieties used.
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Three methods of staking were compared: wooden stakes, maize stems, and sisal strings. The sisal strings proved to be the best method in terms of yield and quality of grain produced. A farmer field day was organized around each demo plot. Farmers selected the sisal strings as the best method of staking.
Photo: Maize stems methods at Rwaza site Photo far right: Sisal strings method in Kinoni site |
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There was a net difference between inoculated plots and non-inoculated plots, regardless the variety and the site, even where the yield was not good , that difference between inoculated and non-inoculated plot is clear. Maize stems method gave poor results because the stakes became very weak to hold the weight of bean pods after flowering.
Speciose Kantengwa