Assessment of French Beans Production at Kariua in Kandara, Murang’a County- Kenya

Abstract

A sample survey research was conducted in November 2017 to January 2018 at Kariua area in Murang’a county, Kenya, with a sole aim to assess the current situation experienced by the French bean farmers in the area as well as form basis for further research, in which 43 farmers were interviewed. The parameters of interest were the average input levels of various factors (manure, fertilizers and water), average spacing of the crops in the field, the average output of the beans, the general plants’ health- all these were per crop point, land sizes under French beans cultivation as well as the demographic factors like age, gender and family size. The questionnaire was the main data collecting tool. Analysis of the data collected was carried out using both descriptive and inferential statistics: Using both R software and Ms-Excel. The results showed that farmers are experiencing very low yields at peak on average and poor plant health (harvest=13.4 g, infected leaves= 8 and immature pods= 15, all per crop point). Average land size under French beans farming, D.A.P and C.A.N fertilizers applied, manures applied, crop spacing and water for irrigation were found to be approximately 79.80 m2, 4.75 decigrams, 2.49 decigrams, 24.69 grams, 9.81 cm by 27 cm and 4.38 litres respectively. Low yields and poor crop health, scarce resources, pests, infections, diseases and intercropping and were also evident in the region.

Integrating Metarhizium anisopliae entomopathogenic fungi with border cropping reduces black bean aphids (Aphis fabae) damage and enhances yield and quality of French bean

“…Black bean aphid ( Aphis fabae Scopoli) is ranked high among the major insect pests limiting the realisation of maximum yields and quality of French beans worldwide. There has been a recorded decline in productivity of french bean [ 9 ], raising concerns about sustaining production while maintaining growth, yield, and quality. The black bean aphids is capable of causing yield losses of up to 30–70 % [ 10 , 11 ].…”