Africa: Universities join French bean project
The University of Nairobi and Mount Kenya University are set to participate in the $130,000 (Sh11.4 million) initiative to enhance research on the vegetable.
The joint study is funded by the Association of Strengthening Agriculture Research and will also involve Selian Agricultural Research Institute of Tanzania and National Agricultural Research Organisation of Uganda.
John Nderitu of Mount Kenya University, who is one of the key partners overseeing the implementation of the project, said the main objective of the funding is to spur use of better technology and innovation to revolutionise production.
“The project is expected to help farmers to efficiently manage soil fertility and pests and use environment friendly cost effective technologies,” he said.
“We want to enable access of information that will enhance integrated crop management options and improve food and nutrition security including the income in East Africa.”
Kenya exports 30,000 metric tonnes of snap beans valued at about Sh4 billion to the UK, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany.
One of the team leaders George Chemining’wa from the University of Nairobi said the programme involves short term training for farmers, researchers and other stakeholders involved in snap bean production.
The project is being carried out in Kirinyaga South and Embu in Kenya, Siha and Arumeru in Tanzania as well as in Mpigi and Wakiso in Uganda.
Source: businessdailyafrica.com
