Comprehensive Guide To French Beans Farming In Kenya.
Learn about French beans farming in Kenya, including cultivation practices, ecological requirements, health benefits among other processes.
French beans, scientifically classified as Phaseolus vulgaris and belonging to the Fabaceae family, are cultivated primarily for their pods and seeds.
Despite their low consumption rate domestically, they hold a significant position in the export market.
In Kenya, they thrive predominantly in warm-wet regions such as Nakuru, parts of Kajiado, Thika, Murang’a, Machakos, Uasin Gishu, Western Kenya, Kisumu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, and Naivasha.
Through irrigation, French beans can be cultivated year-round.
French beans health benefits and nutritional value
- Low levels of sodium, saturated fats, and cholesterol, making them advantageous for weight loss.
- Rich in folates, which aid in preventing neural tube defects, particularly during pregnancy.
- Abundant in essential nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium, protein, fat, starch, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- A rich source of vitamins A, B, D, and K.
- High in dietary fiber, assisting in regulating body fats.
- Contain flavonoids and antioxidants that counteract harmful free radicals, thus slowing the aging process.
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What are the French beans ecological requirements in Kenya?
- French beans thrive in well-drained soils rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic to alkaline pH of 6.5-7.5.
- Optimal growing temperature ranges from 20-25°C, although they can tolerate temperatures between 14-32°C depending on the variety. Extremely high temperatures can hinder flower development and pod set.
- An optimum altitude range of 1000 – 2100 meters above sea level is suitable, with faster maturation in warmer areas.
- For rain-fed farming, well-distributed annual rainfall of 900-1200mm is suitable. Irrigation should supplement inadequate rainfall. Excessive rainfall during flowering can lead to flower abortion and increased disease incidences.
Seed selection involves various varieties of French beans with different colors, including green, yellow, and purple.
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Which are the commonly grown French beans varieties in Kenya?
Commonly grown varieties in Kenya include Samantha, Boston, Serengeti, Amy, Belcampo, and more.
For an acre of land, 25-30kg of certified seeds are typically required, depending on the variety.
Spacing depends on factors such as variety, water availability, and soil fertility.
Land preparation involves weed control, plowing, leveling, and mixing soil with manure and DAP.
Propagation is done through directly sowing seeds into the field.
French beans farming in Kenya field operations
Field operations include irrigation, weeding, support for climbing varieties, crop rotation, and fertilizer application.
MAJOR PESTS & DISEASES
Pests
Bean fly:
The larvae tunnel into the plant stem, damaging the vascular tissue and causing reduced plant vigor and drooping of petioles in older crops.
Severe infestations can result in the death of seedlings.
Plants are particularly vulnerable for 3-4 weeks after emergence.
Affected plants exhibit yellowing, stunted growth, and cracked stems at soil level.
Recommended Sprays:
- EMERALD® 200SL: 10ml/20L
- PRESENTO® 200SP: 5g/20L
- KINGCODE ELITE® 50EC: 10ml/20L
Thrips: Nymphs and adults feed on leaves and flower structures, leading to damage and abortion of flowers and buds.
Heavy infestations cause leaf loss.
Recommended Sprays:
- ALONZE® 50EC: 5ml/20L
- DEFENDER® 25EC: 40ml/20L
- PRESENTO® 200SP: 5g/20L
Aphids: These insects cluster on stems, leaves, and pods, sucking plant sap and causing stunted growth and malformation.
They excrete honeydew, promoting the development of sooty mold, which reduces the photosynthetic area.
Recommended Sprays:
- PENTAGON® 50EC: 10ml/20L
- PRESENTO® 200SP: 5g/20L
- KINGCODE ELITE® 50EC: 10ml/20L
For sooty mold removal, use JAMBO CLEAN® at 100ml/20L.
Red spider mites: These pests feed on the undersides of leaves, causing yellow stipples on leaf surfaces. Heavy infestations lead to webbing on leaf undersides.
Recommended Sprays:
- ALONZE® 50EC: 5ml/20L
- BAZOOKA® 18EC: 10ml/20L
- DEFENDER® 25EC: 40ml/20L
Whiteflies: They cause leaf curling, distortion, and eventual drop by sucking plant sap. Honeydew secretion encourages sooty mold development.
Recommended Sprays:
- TAURUS® 500SP: 10g/20L
- PRESENTO® 200SP: 5g/20L
- EMERALD® 200SL: 10ml/20L
To eliminate sooty mold, use JAMBO CLEAN® at 100ml/20L.
African bollworm: This pest damages pods by feeding with its head inside, reducing quality.
It also feeds on leaves and flowers.
Recommended Sprays:
- KINGCODE ELITE® 50EC: 10ml/20L
- PENTAGON® 50EC: 10ml/20L
- PRESENTO® 200SP: 5g/20L
Cutworms: These caterpillars cut the stems of young plants, causing damage.
They are active at night and hide during the day.
Recommended Drench:
- PENTAGON® 50EC: 20ml/20L
- LOYALTY® 700WP: 10g/20L
Diseases
Rust: Causes raised reddish-brown pustules on leaves, pods, and stems.
Severe infections may lead to crop death.
Recommended Sprays:
- MILESTONE® 250SC: 10ml/20L
- DUCASSE® 250EW: 20ml/20L
- DOMAIN® 250EC: 10ml/20L
Downy mildew: Results in whitish or grey fungal growth on leaf undersides, with yellowing of upper sides and pod whitish patches.
Recommended Sprays:
- TOWER® 720WP: 50g/20L
- MILESTONE® 250SC: 10ml/20L
- KATERINA® 720SC: 40ml/20L
Anthracnose: Leads to brown to black lesions on pods and stems, with black spots on leaves, interfering with photosynthesis.
Recommended Sprays:
- DUCASSE® 250EW: 20ml/20L
- DOMAIN® 250EC: 10ml/20L
- JUPITER® 125SC: 15ml/20L
Bacterial blight: Causes brown blotches on leaves, leading to leaf fall and plant death.
Recommended Spray:
- GREENCOP® 500WP: 50g/20L
Fusarium wilt: Results in sudden yellowing and death of plants due to vascular tissue discoloration.
Recommended Drench:
- GREENCOP® 500WP: 100g/20L
- PYRAMID® 700WP: 50g/20L
Damping off: Causes seed rot and seedling death, with white cottony growth on infected roots.
Recommended Drench:
- PYRAMID® 700WP: 100g/20L
- DOMAIN® 250EC: 10ml/20L
Angular Leaf spots: Leads to angular brown spots on leaves, stalks, and pods, with purple edges and grey centers.
Recommended Sprays:
- DOMAIN® 250EC: 10ml/20L
- DUCASSE® 250EW: 20ml/20L
- CHARIOT® 500SC: 20ml/20L
- MILESTONE® 250SC: 10ml/20L
Powdery mildew: Causes white powdery growth on stems, leaves, flowers, and pods, turning black with severe infection.
Recommended Sprays:
- DOMAIN® 250EC: 10ml/20L
- CHARIOT® 500SC: 20ml/20L
- JUPITER® 125SC: 15ml/20L
Bean Common Mosaic (BCM): A viral disease causing mosaics, leaf curling, and stunted growth, transmitted by aphids.
Control of aphid vectors:
- PENTAGON® 50EC: 10ml/20L
- PRESENTO® 200SP: 5g/20L
- KINGCODE ELITE® 50EC: 10ml/20L
Tips:
- Use INTEGRA (3ml/20L) as a sticker, spreader, and penetrant when doing foliar sprays.
- CADILAC® 800WP (50g/20L) is a preventative fungicide for downy mildew, anthracnose, and leaf spots.
French Beans Farming In Kenya Harvesting & Post-Harvest Processes
Harvesting
Commences 6 to 8 weeks post-planting, contingent on the variety and environmental factors.
Harvesting is optimal in the morning, avoiding excessive moisture on the crop.
Pods are delicately picked from the plant with their stalks intact, not pulled.
This process occurs at regular intervals, tailored to market specifications.
For instance, fine French beans are typically harvested twice a week, while extra fine beans may require thrice-weekly harvests, extending for about a month.
Harvesting young beans stimulates further production and ensures superior taste.
Yield
On average, an acre yields between 4 to 6 tonnes of French beans.
Handling
Attention to detail preserves produce quality.
Harvested beans should be shielded from direct sunlight, and containers must not be overfilled.
Sorting and Grading
Sorting eliminates defective pods and plant debris, while grading categorizes produce by size.
Packing
Packing procedures ensure compliance with European Union quality standards (standard EC 912/2001).
Each export-bound box must display product details such as producer/exporter name, size, category, and origin.
Storage
Immediate cold room storage post-packing is essential.
French beans can be stored for up to a week at 4°C and 80% relative humidity.
Market
The primary market for French beans is the European Union.
Kenya’s export market experiences two main seasons:
A high-demand period (September to March, dominated by irrigated supply) ;
And a low-demand season (June to September, coinciding with high supply during the long rains, leading to reduced prices).
