Farmers’ use and adaptation of improved climbing bean production practices in the highlands of Uganda.

Submitted by marcel.lubbers on
Author(s)
Ronner E., Descheemaeker K., Almekinders C.J.M., Ebanyat P., Giller, K.E.
Year
2018
Keywords
adaptation, climbing bean production
Publisher
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 261, 186-200.
Country
Uganda

Climbing beans offer potential for sustainable intensification of agriculture, but their cultivation constitutes a relatively complex technology consisting of multiple components or practices. We studied uptake of improved climbing bean production practices (improved variety, input use and management practices) through co-designed demonstrations and farmer-managed adaptation trials with 374 smallholder farmers in eastern and southwestern Uganda. A sub-set of these farmers was monitored one to three seasons after introduction. About 70% of the farmers re-planted climbing beans one season after the adaptation trial, with significant differences between eastern (50%) and southwestern Uganda (80–90%). Only 1% of the farmers used all of the improved practices and 99% adapted the technology.