Page 73 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Chapter

Five Common bean
production
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY

Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn the principles and practices of producing common
beans, including planning, site selection, land preparation, variety selection
and sowing. You will also learn the management of soil water and nutrients,
weeds, pests and diseases as well as harvesting and postharvest handling and
marketing. The competencies developed will enable you to produce common
beans for food and income generation.

Think

An affordable and valuable protein source for the majority of the human
population in Sub-Saharan Africa

Common bean and its importance
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is among the most important crops in
Tanzania, which is grown widely and consumed in many homes across the
country (Figure 5.1). Beans are eaten together with other foods like maize, rice,
and cassava. Beans are the main source of plant protein, as well as some vitamins
and minerals. Common beans have economic importance to various actors along
the crop value chain. As a leguminous plant, the common bean can fix nitrogen
and thus improve soil fertility through biological processes. The process benefits
other crops that are either grown afterwards through crop rotation, or grown
together as an intercrop. Common beans are relatively easy to grow as they do
not require many inputs or complicated cultivation tools/equipment.

64 Student’s Book Form Three

17/09/2025 14:11
AGRICULTURE F3.indd 64 17/09/2025 14:11
AGRICULTURE F3.indd 64