Tanzania: Demo Farm Show Bright Future in Beans Cultivation

Dar es Salaam — Despite the nutritional value of beans, farmers seem to be not prioritising it because of some reasons, including not knowing its nutritional and economic advantages.

Beans contain plenty of proteins and are a good source of Vitamin B in the nourishment of the human body as they also contain the magnesium mineral that protects the body from heart complications. They also contain Vitamin K for memory.

To ensure the cultivation of beans is prioritised, the country's non-governmental organisation called 'African Fertiliser and Agribusiness Partnership (Afap), is committed to providing education on fertiliser use and planting of the crop to improve the livelihoods of farmers and crop yield.

Education is provided by Afap in conjunction with Farm Radio International Company, which runs a programme on the cultivation of beans in cooperation with Kenya's Nairobi-based Cabi.

The four regions that have befitted from this project are Ruvuma's Namtumbo and Madaba districts, Njombe (Ludewa and Njombe), Mbeya (Mbozi and Mbeya Rural), Iringa (Mufindi and Kilole), Kilimanjaro (Rombo and Moshi Rural), Morogoro (Gairo and Mvomero), Arusha (Meru and Karatu) and Manyara (Babati and Hanang).