Abstract:

The common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most widely grown food legume in Uganda, however, its production in western Uganda has been threatened by the bean root rot diseases. Resistant varieties and integrated soil and crop management package for the bean root rot disease,
developed by the National Beans Research Programme, were promoted from 2003 to 2007 in Bushenyi and Kisoro Districts that were most susceptible to this disease. This study was conducted to assess the level of uptake of technologies and practices promoted in the target area, and factors influencing the decision to adopt. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire that was administered to 160 purposively selected bean farmers. The Poisson regression model was used to determine the factors influencing the number of technologies and practices used. The study revealed that majority (95.0%) of the bean farmers had adopted at least one of the improved bean varieties promoted. The results further show that NABE 12C, NABE 13 and NABE 14 were the most preferred improved varieties. Preference was mainly attributed to high yield, palatability and short cooking time. Use of improved and resistant varieties (95.0%), sowing of one seed per hole (72.5%) and Farm Yard Manure (71.3%) were the most commonly used in management of the bean root rot disease. Analysis of the sequential combination of technologies adopted reveal that most farmers in Kisoro district used improved varieties + Farm Yard Manure + Row planting + One seed per hole; while the farmers in Bushenyi mainly used a combination of improved varieties + Farm Yard Manure +Crop Rotation + One seed per hole. Poisson results indicated that adoption was significantly and positively influenced by access to bean information, number of times a farmer was trained, participation in farmer to farmer seed loan scheme, record management
and the price of improved varieties. Age of household head had a negative influence and significantly reduced the expected number of technologies and practices used in the management of BRR disease by 20%. To sustain the use of bean root rot management technologies and practices, there is need to support establishment of community-based seed production systems which have already shown evidence of success in other areas and crops to ensure availability of sufficient quantities of seed and access to resistant varieties; support rural enterprises which provide inputs; and ensure farmers’ continued access to information though use of different channels and media.