By Henry Jami Mang’eni
Farmers are earning Sh12,000 per 90Kg bag growing Nyota beans– 75 per cent more than those growing other red beans– as Kenyans flock to the new bean which does not accumulate gas in the digestive system causing flatulence and halves the cooking time of other beans.
Developed by the Kenya Agricultural Research Organization (KALRO), Nyota beans are found in 16 different varieties depending on your region. It gives a solution for children who abstain from eating beans due to flatulence apart from proteins, it is rich in iron nutrients that help the body in its physical activity and makes it resistant to infection. It also has zinc which children require for growth, maintenance of immune function that enhancing both prevention and also recovery from infectious diseases.
Abednego Mwendwa, a bean farmer in the Njukini area of Taveta pointed out, ‘’Nyota was brought to us by KALRO and farmers liked it so much because it had a good market. However, it is sometimes absent in our agrovet shops and farmers are looking for the seed as it performs well in this area. We have irrigation canals here and under basin and furrow irrigation we can plant any time of the year.”
Besides having low flatulence and being nutritious, it has other benefits that include:
- It is high yielding, producing 6-10 bags (90kg) per acre and a common market price from the traders is a price of 80 ksh a kilo bringing your earnings to 72,000/- per acre. The market price will keep fluctuating.
- It stands out as drought tolerant and disease tolerant compared to other bean varieties.
- Good storage of beans after harvest and proper drying is necessary to put away moulds which are a threat to poor handling after harvesting. Put them in sacks and then store in a well-ventilated store no leakages and moisture.
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Abednego adds that the absence of seeds has seen farmers resort to getting their seed from far while others get their seeds not from KALRO but in the local market. “This practice is not advisable as during farmer trainings we are advised to use only certified seed for good harvest,” he added
Growing Conditions and Procedure for Nyota Beans
- Nyota beans can do well in areas of low to medium rainfall (750 – 1000 mm) annually
- An altitude of 1000 – 1600 meters above sea level
- It can grow in a wide range of soils but does best in areas with soils that have deep and well drained and rich in organic matter with a ph of 6-7.
- Farmers need to adopt practices like use of organic fertilizer and maintenance of biomass in the soil, this helps them to achieve soils that are rich in organic matter.
- The guidelines recommended by KALRO for spacing is 50 x 10 cm and 45 x 15 cm
- Flowers appper at 30 – 40 days after planting.
- Use the appropriate method of land preparation which may include the use of hoes, oxen drawn plough or tractor.
Conservation agronomists have also come in with a variety of tools for land preparation and planting for example the jab planter and the rippers.
Land preparation and planting methods are also highly influenced by the irrigation method.
- Under normal circumstances, prepare and level your seed bed thoroughly against any material that may hinder planting.
- Crop care like weeding is done twice during the growing period because Nyota beans mature in 60 – 70 days.
- 50 kg fertilizer DAP is enough for I acre. Some farmers prefer use of organic fertilizer and bio fertilizer so these are also recommended.
Beans are important because they fix nitrogen in the soils and this is very important in fertility therefore many farmers would prefer to intercrop beans with maize or other related crops.
Nyota seeds are available at:
- KALRO Mkulima shops and in some KALRO Centers. Call 0800721741, or info@kalro.org, like Mtwapa ,Matuga ,Kibos in Kisumu ,Machakos ,Kitale and KALRO has also made the seed available in most local agrovets.
- Companies like Simlaw seed 0794546935 also have online contacts that are helpful in sourcing the seed www.simlaw.co.ke where you can download the app and buy seed.
- Nyota variety is still available online on jumia.co.ke who sources from KALRO
- Agripack Seeds limited (agripackseeds.co.ke, on whatsapp 254112246694.
- They also sell to local agrovets.
- AgrIbora has an online market that also stocks and distributes the certified varieties from KALRO 0795570197.
- Agro pests Solutions which is an online inputs dealer also sells Nyota Variety online: 0728400331
- Seed Co Kenya: 0797381098 / 0702934938
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