A study on the management and quality of farmers' home-saved bean seeds in Lira and Masindi Districts

Abstract

A baseline study was conducted in I jra and :\1asindi districts to determine farmers ' practices of harvesting, drying,
processing, ~toragc an<i protection of homc-save<i bean seclis. Two parishes from two sub-counties in each district were
selected as study sites. Farmers' bean seed source; seeli preparation and μ!anting practices; 5eed harvesting techniques;
St.'Cd primary processing, storage auu protection methods were inves<igatell. Representative seed samples were ootained
from farmers in March and in August 1999, the months procee<.ling the first and second planting seasons r espLo.ctively,
and were tested for quality in the h1bonito ry. The results showed the predominant reliance on home-saved seeds as
source of planting materials hy farmers. Seeds were salvaged from grains. only al the time of planting. The quality of
farmcrs' home-saved seeds was 1)oor and this was compensated for panting using a high seed rate. The main cons1raint
to bean seed quality was wet weather during harve~ting, urying and threshing, H hich promoted retention of high sc{'d
moisture c1mtent, seed invasion hy microflora aud infes ~ation by hruchids. These factors advers ely affected the
germination capacity of seeds. Improved grain drying, processing, storage and protection technologies that arc "seed
friendly" arc recommenricd for application on home-saved seeds.