ASILIMENI MASWATI Ep.14 | Ministry of Agriculture: How to Get Bean Farming Right in 2026

Описание: In Episode 14 of Asilimeni Maswati, Agribusiness Media Chief Editor Sibusiso Mngadi sits down with Nicholas Manana, a Research Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, based at the Malkerns Agricultural Research Station, to unpack the official bean production guide for the 2026 planting season.

As dry bean planting gets underway across Eswatini, the Ministry of Agriculture is urging farmers to approach beans as a commercial crop, not a fallback option. With national demand estimated at 7,000–8,000 tonnes per year and local production still below 2,000 tonnes, Manana explains how correct agronomic practices can help farmers improve yields, reduce imports, and increase incomes.

🔍 In this episode, farmers will learn about:

Why soil testing is the first and most important step in bean production

Recommended soil pH (5.2–6.5) and fertiliser guidance

Correct planting time across Highveld, Middleveld and Lowveld zones

Proper land preparation and why beans need fine to medium tilth

Certified bean varieties available in Eswatini, including AS 148, CAP 2000, AS 9216 and Camba Manga

Correct spacing (45–60 cm x 7.5–10 cm) and seed rates (70–100 kg/ha)

Why using maize spacing for beans reduces yields

Fertilisation, weed control in the first five weeks, and crop rotation

Expected yields of 1.5–2 tonnes per hectare, and up to 3 tonnes under irrigation

Why beans can be a profitable crop when managed correctly

Manana also explains why knowledge, certified inputs and disciplined agronomy will determine whether this season deepens Eswatini’s reliance on imports — or marks a shift toward stronger local bean production.

📌 About Asilimeni Maswati

Asilimeni Maswati is Agribusiness Media’s farmer-focused programme dedicated to sharing practical, trusted and locally relevant agricultural knowledge to support profitable and sustainable farming in Eswatini.

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