Fact sheet of the project Participatory research on adaptability of bean varieties to improve food and nutrition security: Context, objectives, location, partners, methodology, initial results and next steps. The Cauca climate-smart village (CSV) is led by Fundación Ecohabitats, with support from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)

1. Of all the grain legumes, beans are the most important species for human consumption. According to FAO, 129 countries
on five continents reported bean production and Latin America is the area of greatest production and consumption, with
more than 45% of world production. Beans are considered one of the staples of the rural economy1
.
The community of Cauca climate-smart village (CSV), prioritized the evaluation of improved varieties of beans as a measure
of adaptation to variability and climate change, given that erratic patterns of rainfall and occasional hailstorms increase
phytosanitary risks in traditional varieties. In addition, this climate-smart practice is contributing to diet diversification,
improvement of families’ food and nutritional security, and can even be another future income source as surpluses are
commercialized.
1 FENALCE. 2010. El cultivo de fríjol, historia e importancia.
Participatory research on adaptability of bean varieties to
improve food and nutrition security
JLUrrea(CCAFS)

2. Objectives
• Conduct participatory research in which farmers test
different varieties of bean seeds to evaluate their
adaptation and acceptance by the community.
• Increase food and nutrition security of the community
by increasing the consumption of beans in a region with
traditionally low consumption of this legume.
• Collect and analyze the variables of climate and soil
that affect the yields of the bean crop in the territory as
well as the control of pests and diseases to increase
production.
Location
Cauca CSV (Colombia)
Partners
CIAT, Fundación EcoHabitats.
Methodology
Farmers conduct trials with four varieties of climbing
bean, drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, and three
drought-resistant bush bean varieties, two of them
biofortified. To do this, beans are planted according to the
recommendations of the researchers, who systematically
collect phenological and yield data to keep a record of
how each variety behaves at the farm level, and then
compare these data with those from experimental crops.
The community also participates in varieties selection
considering flavor, to determine the varieties not only
better adapted but also the ones that they like best for
self-consumption and potential sale.
Initial results
• Since the first harvest, farmers have saved COP70.000/
month (USD24) in household basket spending
since they do not have to buy beans, plus a notable
improvement in their traditional carbohydrate-based
diet.
• The community has been very positive to the process of
planting beans, because diversifying their eating habits
improves the intake of protein, iron, and zinc. In addition,
the whole family has been involved in the experimental
process.
• In addition to increasing food security during periods
of drought, through this climate-smart practice, farmers
are starting a process of management and selling of
surpluses and production of clean seed.
Next steps
Strongly encourage bean consumption throughout the
community, determining the amount of beans that need
to be produced so that community members can eat on
average at least 4-5 kilos of beans a year per person (the
national average is 3.7 kg/year).
At the same time, initiating an integrated pest and disease
management plan considering climate variability seeking
sustainability, as well as training farmers to produce clean
seed manually and follow correct storage mechanisms,
by strengthening their knowledge and involving them in
the participatory research.
More information
Carlos Jara, Beans-Agrobiodersity-CIAT
c.jara@cgiar.org
www.ccafs.cgiar.org
About CCAFS
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT),
brings together some of the world’s best researchers in agricultural science, development research, climate science and Earth System science, to identify and
address the most important interactions, synergies and tradeoffs between climate change, agriculture and food security. www.ccafs.cgiar.org.
CCAFS Latin America
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Km. 17 Recta Cali-Palmira.
Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
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