Common bean is enjoying resurgence in interes! and an enhanced level of consumption as a majar souree of protein for Afriean households owing to an outrageous inerease in priee of animal products. It also serves as a break erop in Maize-hased and rice-based systems to reduce decline in soil fertility. However frequent drougbt and diseases Iimit roductivity of beans in Ihe region. It is partly because bean production in recent years has c"panded into semi-arid regions due to an inerease in population pressure. While drought IS yet one of the most limiting faetors to bean production on a global scale tbe situation wi II expectedly deteriorate in Afríe!! if the curren! trend of land degradation cannot be reversed. In addition climatie variability will increase as it bas been postulated in a scenario of global warming.
Publication year
2004
Authors
Amede, T.; Kimani, P.; Ronno, W.; Lunze, L.; Mbikay, N.
Keywords
Beans, Drought resistance, Genetic improvement, Phaseolus vulgaris
