Kenyan scientists working on the Ziron Pulse project have developed new bean varieties which are drought, pest, and disease resistant and fortified with zinc and iron.
The five bean varieties are recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as well as children under the age of five years to ensure they have sufficient amounts of zinc and iron in their bodies.
Zinc and Iron not only support healthy development of children, but also plays a key role in the wellbeing of adults.
According to the lead scientist in the project, Dr. Beatrice Kiage, the new beans are also early maturing making them advantageous in the wake of climate change.
"We came up with beans varieties with high value of zinc and iron which include Nyota, Faida, Angaza, Cheupe and Kenya Madini," Kiage told the Standard.
These new varieties of beans also take significantly less time to cook compared to the conventional bean varieties available in the market and therefore save on fuel.
The beans are expected to help address the increasing cases of malnutrition in the country where 26 per cent of children are in danger of stunting.
“These beans mature in under three months and a two kilo packet sells for Ksh260 only," Kiage revealed.
The scientists working on the project are also seeking to teach consumers new ways of preparing beans after a study they did revealed that Kenyans are not creative in the ways they consume beans.
According to Dr Kiage, Kenyans are only eating githeri and boiled beans and therefore need to get different ways of consuming beans so that it becomes appealing to children.
As a result, the scientists have come up with 40 recipes to make bean cakes, cookies, chapatis, mandazi, kebab, and porridge among others.
The project was funded by the James Anton Institute with Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), University of Nairobi, Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), and the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom.
