Beans are widely grown due to its health food values and high demand a cross the world and also a source of revenue to farmers.
However many farmers experience low yields due to poor crop management, declining soil fertility, poor pests and disease control and poor quality seeds. Therefore to guarantee a good harvest a number of activities have to be undertaken for abundant harvest.
Agronomic practices
Start be selecting deep well drained fertile soil however avoid planting in swampy and sandy areas. Practice crop rotation to avoid pest and disease build up.
Always plant certified seeds, do not plant harvested seeds for more than 3 seasons as poor seeds will result into poor yields and prepare land 2-4 weeks before rain onset and plough twice to soften soil.
Furthermore plant 2 seeds per hole at rain onset, space rows at 45cm and 20cm plant to plants for oxen use 60cm by 15cm and intercrop with non leguminous crops for them to benefit from fixed nitrogen.
Ensure fertilizer application at recommended rates for improved crop growth and control weeds timely to ensure high yields however avoid weeding at flowering stage.
Lastly harvest beans before they shutter to avoid the losses but also harvest dry and green beans separately.
Post harvest activities
First, thresh beans on clean ground, separate rubbish and winnow to separate chaff, then sort grains by hand to remove bad grains from good ones and to avoid varietal mixture.
Also grade depending on colour, damage, foreign materials, insect/ pests attack, odour.
Additionally preserve, treat with recommended chemical and properly store in a clean dry place to protect beans from storage pests.
Conclusively keep produce, store in good condition and introduce first in first out policy.
