French beans are a major export crop in Kenya whose local consumption is
gradually being adopted. The crop is popularly grown by both large and
smallholder farmers. French beans are immaturee green pods which are referred to
as snap or green beans.one acre yields 4 tons of french beans at average selling price Ksh 60 per kilo, farmers will earn Ksh 240,000 by the end of the harvest period.French beans are recommended to be grown on small scale with
staggered planting due to its intensive labour requirements. It is cultivated
both for fresh consumption and processing mainly canning and freezing. The
optimum temperature range for growing French beans is 20-25ºC and an altitude
range of 1,000-2,1000M.Rainfed cultivation is possible in areas with well
distributed medium to high rainfall of 900-1,200 per year, but supplementary
irrigation is required to maintain continuous production during off season.
French beans performs best on well drained silty loams to heavy clay soil high
in organic matter contents with slightly acidic to slightly alkaline PH of
6.5-7.5.
Varieties grown in Kenya are determined by market
preferenc
and includes monel, Gloria, Claudia, Morgan, Amy coby, espada
maasai, Samantha, paulista and nerina. Monel is a high yielding variety with a
long picking duration which has been growing Kenya for long. The pods are grayish
green, straight, long, round and fleshy. String and seed development is slow
making even pods harvested late to qualify for market. Monel French beans
Flowers are purple with black seeds. Certified seeds are recommended for French
beans growing at a seed rate of 50-60 kg per hectare. With irrigation, all year
round production is possible but the main export season is October to May. The
land should be ploughed and harrowed properly before direct sowing of the
French beans seeds. Planting is carried out in single rows at 30×15cm or double
rows at 60×30×10cm single seed per hole. The crop takes 45-50 days from
planting to first picking. Farm yard manure is recommended in poor soils at a
rate of 10tons/ha applied in planting furrows. 200kg per ha of DAP fertilizer
is applied in the furrows and mixed well before planting. At three leaf stage
topdressing is carried out with 100kg of CAN and a second application follows
at the onset of flowering. Foliar feed should be applied fortnightly from the
fourth week to mid podding stage to promote high yields.
However excessive nitrogen promotes growth of leaves instead
of pods. Regular watering is essential for promotion of high yields, uniformity
and high quality. The crop is sensitive to water stress at flowering .Water
logging should also be avoided. Application of 35mm of water per week at
planting to 10 days after germination and 50mm thereafter to flowering stage is
recommended for good growth of French beans. Timely weed control is absolutely essential.
The following pre-emergence herbicides can be used.
- Lasso 4 EC( Alachlor)-3 litres in 400litres of water per hectare
- Stomp (Pendimethalin)-2.5 Litres in 400 litres of water per hectare
- Basagran (Bentazon)-Can be applied post emergence at 2.5-3 litres per hectare for control of broad leaved weeds.
http://www.journalofkenyanhorticulture.blogspot.com/2011/04/kenyan-french-bean-production-
http://www.hortibiz.com/detail/article/kenya-starts-export-of-french-beans-to-us/