Appraisal of common bean farming systems under angular leaf spot disease prone environments of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Abstract

Angular leaf spot caused by Pseudocercospora griseola is the most destructive disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania (SHT). The objectives of this study were to assess the farming system and farmers awareness in the ALS disease prone environments of the SHT. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect information from 238 respondents sampled from Mbeya, Njombe, Iringa and Rukwa regions. Data collected included population demography, production constraints, and indicators of poverty. The results showed that ALS widely occurred in the SHT but farmers were not aware of the disease and sources of inocula. Most of the respondents were poor with average yields of less than 500 kg ha-1. Lack of knowledge on ALS disease and the presence of favorable environmental conditions increased chances of P. griseola proliferation. Therefore, trainings on awareness and intensification of extension services is important. Breeding for durable resistance is an overriding consideration towards increasing bean productivity in the SHT.