By Cliff Chiduku
Since the summer crop planting window has closed, farmers are encouraged to consider short season crops such as sugar beans and cowpeas. Sugar bean farming is a crucial agricultural activity that contributes significantly to Zimbabwe’s food security and economy.
Besides becoming a rich source of vegetable protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals, sugar beans contribute to addressing malnutrition challenges within the population. Furthermore, since it is a cash crop, it can provide rural households with income-generating opportunities, thereby contributing to poverty alleviation and rural development.
Depending on agro-ecological zones, sugar beans can be grown at least twice a year, in February and early July, which presents them as a good opportunity for local farmers to diversify their incomes. Since it possesses nitrogen fixation properties, it can be grown in rotation with heavy fertiliser feeders such as maize, wheat and cabbage.
Agronomic practices
Sugar beans thrive in well-drained soil with good fertility. They also require full sun for optimal growth. Farmers are encouraged to rotate the bean crop with other plants each year to prevent diseases and maintain soil fertility. Soil should be kept moist, but not waterlogged, especially during flowering and pod development. Mulching can help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Monitor the plants regularly for pests such as aphids, bean beetles, and leafhoppers. Diseases such as powdery mildew and bacterial blight can be prevented by practicing crop rotation, and proper spacing.
Sugar beans are a short-season crop as they are usually ready for harvest between 80 and 100 days after planting, depending on the variety. Harvest when the pods are plump and firm but before they become tough or discoloured. Remove the pods carefully to avoid damaging the plant, then shell the beans from the pods.
Market
Sugar bean presents promising market opportunities for local farmers. The crop holds significant value both domestically and internationally. In the domestic market, sugar beans are a staple food source for many households, driving consistent demand throughout the year.
The crop can be sold at open markets such Mbare Musika, to supermarkets, non-governmental organisations and through contract farming schemes. It is quite lucrative to produce sugar beans that has a return per dollar invested that ranges between US$$1.50 and US$2.00 depending on the agronomic practises employed by the farmer.
Local companies such as the Grain Marketing Board, PHI, Probrands, among others, are paying between US$750 and US$1 100 per tonne of sugar beans. A kilogram of sugar beans cost an average of US$1.75 at both Mbare Musika and Bulawayo CBD market. A 20kg (20 litre tin) of sugar beans is costing US$25 at Chipadze (Bindura) and Sakubva (Mutare) markets, while at Nembudziya (Gokwe) market, it is selling at US$30.
The national demand for sugar beans hover around 100 000 metric tonnes implying that there is always a supply gap. Internationally, there is a growing demand for high-quality sugar beans, presenting export opportunities for Zimbabwean farmers to tap into regional and global markets.
The sugar bean crop is an important source of vegetable protein. However, there are times when the supply on the local market dwindles. At the moment, the Agricultural Marketing Authority is inundated with buyers looking for huge quantities of sugar beans. Farmers are encouraged to form clusters so that it becomes easy to be linked to markets, especially exports.
To promote the increased production of sugar beans, the Agricultural Marketing Authority introduced market linkages programmes at village business units across the country. The linkages are tailormade not just to link the farmers with markets, but also to guide production. Under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, it is envisaged that more than 35 000 business units will be established countrywide.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is implementing the programme, where AMA provides market linkages, Zinwa is mandated with development of water infrastructure, AFC provides funding and ARDA manages the business units. The programme is aimed at improving rural livelihoods through the establishment of rural business units, which are formal companies, where villagers double as shareholders and employees. There is no doubt sugar bean is a valuable crop for farmers looking to diversify their income.
According to the second-round crop and livestock assessment report 2022/23 season, sugar bean production increased by 23% from 25 388 metric tonnes (mt) in 2021/2022 to 31 274mt in 2022/2023. Targets for sugar bean for the 2022/2023 summer season was 51 015mt. Indeed, increased government support towards the production of the crop buttressed by good rains from the past season has yielded immense results.
The national sugar bean productivity is pegged at an estimated figure of 0.87mt per hectare which is low by any standard. Hence, the Agricultural Marketing Authority is encouraging more contractors to come on board and to promote sugar bean production through backward integration.
Such interventions are a catalyst for increased productivity owing to the provision of adequate inputs, knowledge transfer, reduced transaction costs and a guaranteed market.
Word From the Market is a column produced by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) to promote market-driven production. Feedback cchiduku@ama.co.zw or WhatsApp/Call +263781706212.
