@article{Mangole:334057,
      recid = {334057},
      author = {Mangole, Gotsileene and Ithuteng, M and Radikgomo, M and  Molosiwa, OO},
      title = {Challenges and opportunities in common bean production and  marketing in Botswana: prospects and farmer’s perspectives},
      journal = {African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and  Development},
      address = {2022},
      year = {2022},
      abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the most consumed  legume crop in the world and one of the most consumed in  Botswana. This study aims to identify constraints and  opportunities in beans production in order to introduce the  crop in Botswana cropping system. A survey was conducted  among 287 farmers in two districts of Southern and Chobe  with farmers selected by multi-stage sampling technique.  The majority of farmers were female (66.1%), and a few  farmers planted common bean (11.5%), with majority growing  maize (96%). only a few farmers have experience in common  bean production (25.4%).  Almost a quarter of farmers is  above the productive age of 65 years (27.8%).  Constraints  to production include pests and diseases, damage by  animals, lack of labour, drought and lack of seeds.  However, majority of farmers are aware of the nutritional  attributes of common bean and assume it is a drought  tolerant crop and prefer to grow it at 21% (number of  farmers who want to grow common beans).  Farmers who grew  beans bought their seeds mainly from Agro dealers (76%) and  bought an average of 6kg of seed per time at an average  price of P12.35/kg.  Most of the farmers (87%) were not  trained in common bean production. Most of the farmers  received little or no assistance from the extension  officers resulting to no training or little knowledge about  the production of common beans. Strategies to create  awareness are needed, facilitate access and mobilise  farmers to adopt common beans, to improve their  livelihoods, this is encouraged especially in  agro-ecological zones with high yield producing potential  such as Chobe. Development of seed systems and release of  varieties tested over Botswana environment, would lead to  an increase in production of common bean, improve food  security and nutrition and in a way reduce import bill.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/334057},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.110.20660},
}