Page 87 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Activity 5.7
1. Visit a common bean field on the school farm and observe any pests or disease
symptoms on the crop plants.

2. For any pests and/or disease symptoms observed, suggest effective ways of
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controlling them, and apply them to control the observed pests and diseases.

Exercise 5.6

1. Your bean field shows patches of damaged plants with curled leaves and black
pods. What could be the cause, and what action(s) would you take?
2. A farmer complains of common beans rotting in the field during wet weather.
What steps can be taken to reduce this situation?

3. Your friends want to plant common beans without using chemicals to control
pests and diseases. Write a brief piece of advice you would give them on how
to manage pests and weeds using alternative methods.

Harvesting, postharvest management and marketing of common beans
Harvesting, postharvest handling, and marketing are important stages in
common bean production. Proper harvest and postharvest management ensure
the production of high-quality beans while reducing crop losses. Farmers can get
better prices by following recommended practices.

Harvesting of common beans
Common beans are ready to harvest when most pods turn yellow and dry. The
seeds inside become hard, and the leaves begin to fall off. Depending on the
variety and climate, beans take about 2.5 to 4 months from planting to maturity.
Bush beans can be harvested by picking dry pods by hand or using machines.
When most pods are mature, the whole plant can also be uprooted and dried
before threshing. Climbing and semi-climbing beans are usually continuously
harvested by hand picking mature pods from the plant, leaving the rest to mature.
Harvesting should be done during dry weather to avoid mould and spoilage.

Postharvest management of common beans
After harvesting, beans need to be dried well by spreading them on clean mats,
tarpaulins, or raised platforms. Drying on bare ground should be avoided to
prevent contamination. Beans are considered to be properly dried when they make

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