For further information contact: ciat-bean@cgiar.org

More impact information: CIAT Impact Assessment Web Site

[Background] [Indicators] [Varieties Released] [Impact on Production]
[Adoption of New Technology] [Impact on Consumption and Trade]
[Socioeconomic Effects] [Development of Institutional Networks]

Background

CIAT has conducted research on beans in the Andean Zone since 1974. From 1976 to the early 1980s, CIAT activities in the Andean region were coordinated by the Bean Team, which was composed of five members, each one being responsible for one of the countries in the area. The Regional Bean Project for the Andean Zone (PROFRIZA, its Spanish acronym) was established in 1988. PROFRIZA was created as the result of an agreement between CIAT and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and operated as a CIAT regional program from 1988 to 1997. In 1998, the SDC took over the management of the regional project, with CIAT’s technical assistance. As of year 2000, the Andean project will operate through bilateral agreements between the SDC Regional Offices in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru and the respective national programs. CIAT will continue to provide technical assistance according to specific requests from the national programs. Table 1 shows the evolution of CIAT's activities in the Andean region.

Source: FAOSTAT

a. PROFRIZA = Proyecto Regional de Frijol para la Zona Andina
b. SDC = Swiss Development Cooperation

Indicators

Source: FAOSTAT

Varieties Released in the Last 10 Years (1990-1999)

a. I = intermediately resistant, R = resistant.
b. ANT = anthracnose, CBB = common bacterial blight, and ALS = angular leaf spot.

a. I = determinate bush, II = indeterminate upright bush, and IV = indeterminate, possessing strong climbing ability.

b. I = intermediately resistant, R = resistant, ANT = anthracnose, ALS = angular leaf spot, and BCMV = bean common mosaic virus.

a. R = resistant, I = intermediately resistant, ANT = anthracnose, and HB = halo blight.

a. I = determinate bush, IIa = without guide, III = indeterminate prostrate, IIIa = weak or nonclimbers, and IV = indeterminate, possessing strong climbing ability.

b. R = resistant, ANT = anthracnose, ASC = ascochyta; BCMV = bean common mosaic virus, HB = halo blight, and NEM = nematodes.

Impact on Production

• At the end of the 1990's, all countries showed sharp increases in production. The Andean Region increased its share in the Latin American bean production from 3.5 percent in 1964-1966 to 5.2 percent in 1997-1999.
• The annual growth rate of production from 1988 to 1999 ranged from 2.7 percent to 4.3 percent, depending on the country.
• Impressive production levels were reached during 1994 to 1996: 16.9 percent for Bolivia, 14.9 percent for Peru, and 8.7 percent for Colombia, contrasting with the negative values for Latin America as a whole (-4.5 percent).
• The growth rate of bean production during 1988-1999 was higher than that of the population during the same period.
• Against all projections of deficits made in the 1980s by economists, bean production in the Andean region at the end of the century showed impressive surplus.

Adoption of New Technology

Bolivia

• About 80 percent of the farmers the bean growing regions use improved varieties.
• About 95 percent of the 20,000 ha planted to beans are sown with improved varieties.

Colombia

• Eleven varieties developed in Colombia are now planted in more than 20 countries of Latin America, North America, Asia, and Africa.
• Seventy percent of the area planted to beans in Santander, the fourth largest bean-growing region in the country, are planted to improved, anthracnose-resistant varieties.

Ecuador

• Of the area planted to bush bean in the northern highlands, 70 percent are planted to improved varieties, and in the southern highlands 80 percent.

Peru

• About 60 percent of the area planted to beans in the coastal region are sown to improved varieties that have solved the most serious bean production constraints (rust, bean common mosaic virus, and nematodes).
• Around 80 percent of the area planted to bush beans in the southern highlands are improved varieties developed by CIAT and INIA scientists.

Impact on Consumption and Trade

Consumption

• The most impressive results occurred in Bolivia. Figures for Santa Cruz, located in eastern Bolivia, surpassed even those of Brazil (Table 9).

• In Cusco, Peru, the release of Q’osqo Poroto INIA helped disseminate new ways of consuming popping beans.
• In Chincha, Peru, where 90 percent of the beans consumed belong to the "canario" type, white bean began to be consumed massively thanks to farmer adoption of Larán Mejorado INIA, a nematode-resistant variety.
• Bean consumption in the Andean Region has become notably diversified (Table 10).

Trade

• In 1980 Bolivia planted nearly 600 ha to bean. In 1999 Bolivia exported 20,000 tons of beans to seven markets.
• Bean has accounted for more than US$36 million in foreign exchange for Bolivia since this crop was introduced in the Eastern Plains.
• ASOPROF (National Bean Growers Association), a small farmers’ association formed by more than 4000 families, has been the driving force behind bean production and export in Bolivia.
• Between 1994 and 1998, Peru exported pulses for a value of more than US$46 million.
• Peru exported beans to 15 countries, and pulses, in general, to more than 40 countries.
• Ecuador sells from 25,000 to 30,000 tons of beans to Colombia, for an estimated value of US$20 million.
  

Socioeconomic Effects

• Bean production generates many jobs in the region (Table 11).

• In the Santa Cruz Plains, Bolivia, beans represent 43 percent of farmer total income.
• Bean production generates considerable casual employment in Eastern Bolivia. In 1998 it generated between 450,000 and 500,000 workdays, half of which involved the family.
• In the settlement areas of the Bolivian plains, in the dry season 86 percent of the area is planted to beans. Farmers no longer need to migrate in search of work and the land is no longer left to invasion by weeds and secondary vegetation.
• In Ecuador about 50,000 families in the highlands grow beans.
• In Peru an estimated 19,000 families cultivate beans.
  

Development of Institutional Networks