By Dickson Bandera
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has urged farmers to adopt Rhizobia inoculation technology in sugar bean production to boost yields, reduce input costs and improve soil fertility.
In production guidance issued to growers, the Ministry said the use of the “N-fixer Rhizobia” inoculant enhances Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), enabling sugar beans to naturally draw nitrogen from the atmosphere and significantly reduce reliance on synthetic Ammonium Nitrate (AN).
According to the Ministry, sugar beans perform best in well-drained sandy loam or rich light soils with an optimum pH of around 6. Recommended spacing is 40–60 centimetres between rows and 5–10 centimetres within rows, with a seed rate of 70–100 kilogrammes per hectare.
Farmers are encouraged to use certified seed varieties such as Cardinal, Kware, NUA45, Bonus, Gadra and Hohodza to ensure strong germination, uniform crop establishment and higher productivity.
The Ministry emphasised that correct inoculation is critical to achieving the desired results. Farmers are advised to apply four 100-gramme sachets of N-fixer inoculant per hectare at planting. The inoculant must be stored in cool conditions, protected from direct sunlight and never frozen to preserve the effectiveness of the beneficial bacteria.
Inoculated seed should be planted immediately into moist soil. Authorities warned that treated seed must not be exposed to direct sunlight, as heat can destroy the Rhizobia bacteria and compromise nitrogen fixation.
On crop protection, the Ministry advised farmers to monitor for common pests such as aphids, bean maggots and CMR beetles, recommending the use of Imidacloprid or Methomyl in line with approved agronomic guidelines. Diseases including anthracnose and powdery mildew should be managed using appropriate fungicides such as Mancozeb and Tebuconazole.
While soil testing is strongly recommended before fertilizer application, farmers who have not conducted soil analysis are advised to apply 300–400 kilogrammes per hectare of Compound L or D at planting as basal fertilizer. Top dressing should be limited to about 100 kilogrammes per hectare of Ammonium Nitrate, depending on crop condition, allowing the inoculant to supply a substantial portion of the crop’s nitrogen requirements.
The Ministry said wider adoption of inoculation technology will lower production costs, enhance soil health and contribute to national food and nutrition security.
