Beans can be a key weapon to fight against malnutrition in Africa

In a press conference with the Minister of agriculture and Animal resources focused on the fight against malnutrition, it was announced that 45 days ago, a program was launched to promote the use of beans rich in iron and phosphoprotein as a major solution to combating malnutrition. Currently, malnutrition stands at 29%, with the goal of reducing it to below 15% by 2029.

“This is an ambitious goal that requires strong commitment. Experts say you can reduce it by 1% per year, but we believe it’s possible. We must work together, because we cannot do it alone,” it was stated.

The program is being implemented in partnership with various stakeholders, including farmers, processors, consumers, and food distributors across the country. It also includes a project to teach schoolchildren how to grow beans through a partnership between SEAD and Alliance.

In the words of the speakers, beans have a special place in this campaign. He went on to highlight a memorandum of understanding (MOU), noting that it focuses on strengthening the capacity of researchers and technical staff in the field of science. “Knowledge is constantly evolving. We must continuously update the knowledge of our staff, providing them with good working environments equipped with modern tools”.

Beyond nutrition, the collaboration also aims to address climate change, promote environmentally friendly agriculture, and provide drought-resistant, pest-tolerant, and disease-resistant seeds. It also focuses on increasing productivity, with examples showing that bush beans can yield up to 2.5 tons per hectare, while climbing beans can yield 4–4.5 tons — though this potential is not yet fully exploited.

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg said “It is a great honor for all lives to lead Africa within the Alliance, where we combine cutting-edge research in nutrition, agriculture, and climate resilience in Africa.”

“Our main goal is the ability to achieve stable nutrition, agriculture that benefits both children and adults, and building the capacity of women researchers to transform Africa’s food systems.”

“I also emphasized and was pleased with what we hear about our journey—our reach in nutrition and sustainable agriculture. As Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Africa Managing Director of the Alliance, pointed out, ‘It is a great honor to lead Africa within the Alliance, bringing together cutting-edge research on nutrition, agriculture, and climate change.”

Minister of Agriculture Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe in a press conference he said: “This is what we stand for modern science, strong research capacity, especially for women researchers, and designing systems that benefit all citizens.”

PPPI Twese hamwe, SEAD, the Alliance, farmers, traders, and our partners, we will prioritize sustainable programs aimed at good health, productive agriculture, and food security for every household in Rwanda.”

All these efforts are aimed at helping Rwanda and other African countries achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, which include eradicating hunger and promoting technology-based agriculture. An example was given of simple technology that will help farmers increase productivity and reduce labor demands while preparing nutrient-rich crops at the regional level.

Titi Léopold