How ASARECAs climbing bean project has improved livelihoods in Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DR Congo

Intensification of Climbing Bean Agro-systems is one of the projects the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) is funding in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo. This project is crucial because of the importance of beans in the diets of the populations of the three countries. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) is their primary source of proteins (21%), carbohydrates (60%), minerals (iron, zinc) and vitamins (19%) and other nutrients. The consumption of beans in the project area is estimated to be more than 60 kg per person per year.