[1] reported that in many tropical regions, cropping systems are characterized by high levels of productivity insufficient to meet food security objectives. This is explained, in particular, by their sensitivity to diseases, pests and other abiotic constraints (cold, heat, poor soils, etc.).

Food production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is insufficient in point of the country must resort to the importation of certain products. The price of food products is constantly increasing and undernourishment is a concern in some provinces. The DR Congo has a food deficit and this situation is for a large part due to the very low level of yields obtained, following the use of cultural practices traditional in a peasant environment.

The common bean is a legume among one of the staple foods for urban and peri-urban population in most developing countries, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where it is considered as one of the accompanying starchy foods [2,3]. It is an excellent source of protein, vitamins and other essential nutrients for the nutritional balance of its consumers [4]

An important food to people of all income categories, it is especially important to the poor as a source of dietary protein. Its production is agronomically diverse, being grown in many different crop associations. Bean is grown primarily by small-scale farmers in Birava, Kabare territory, South Kivu in eastern of DR Congo. Unfortunately, the rate of increase in bean production has been exceeded by the rate of population growth [5]

[5] reported that several diseases and insect pests continue to be major constraints to bean production. Common bean production faces several constraints limiting its yield with more than 0.7 t/ha under rural conditions without using inputs [2,6]. In addition, low soil fertility, diversity of plant pathologies, use of low-performance varieties, climate disturbance and use of inappropriate farming practices are also the main constraints limiting common bean production among smallholder farmers [7,10] Bean root rots have worsened in areas where intensity of bean production is high. Soil fertility is continually declining, which decline is an increasingly significant constraint to the production of not only beans, but also of all crops. Problem-solving research must continue. New technology must reach farmers more quickly. Policies need to be finetuned and infrastructure improved to enable farmers to achieve higher levels of production and to market surpluses efficiently [5]

[11] beans are one of the main crops in eastern DR Congo and in Kabare territory, it is seen along with soybeans, as an important component of the cropping system through restoring soil fertility and providing protein to small farmers. www.N2Africa.org,( February 2021) ) cited [11] reported that with the appearance of bacterial banana wilt in the area, which has had disastrous consequences on the economy of agricultural households, it seems more important to intensify this crop given the nutritional and agronomic advantages it offers.

The agricultural production of common bean farmers in the DRC is deficient due to several factors: lack of plant disease control, poor farming practices, declining soil fertility and limited use of soil conservation measures such as the application of cattle manure to restore soil fertility [12]

This study was undertaken to assess the main production constraints of common bean in Birava Kabare North area at the South Kivu province and east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Target areas and population

The study was conducted between September and December 2020. It consisted of interviews with farmers and farm workers in rural areas in Birava group, where beans crops were mostly cultivated. It was carried out in Biriva area, which is located at the Kabare territory (Latitude: 2° 30′ and 2° 50′S, Longitude: 28° 45′ and 28° 55′E, South-Western of the Kivu Lake) at the South Kivu province, eastern part of DR Congo.  The sample farmers from whom information was collected comprised of 120 small-scale farmers of common beans selected. 

Data collection

A questionnaire consisting of structured, semi-structured and unstructured items was designed based on published literature on the subject as well as experiences of the authors in the field. Data was collected through a farm survey by face-to-face interviews with farmers/farm workers during farming activities. The questionnaire was designed in French and translated into Mashi, the local language, which is understood by the majority of the farmers and pretested using small samples of farmers in the same areas before using it in this study.

Statistical Analysis

All data were coded, entered, and then analyzed using R(R Core Team, 2018)and Microsoft Office Excel 2010 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA). Descriptive results were expressed as frequencies and percentages.

Socio-professionnal caracteristics

Farmer’s personal information is presented in the table 1.

Table 1. Farmer’s personal information

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

Female was insignificant (35%). However, Male was found significant (65%) at 5 % level. The age group between 35 and 50 years was higher in the small holders (55 %) than the age group between 20 and 35 years (38.33%) and the age group between 20 and 35 years (6.67%). On the contrary, the major small holders was higher in primary (35%), illiterate (25%), 3 years post primary (17.5%) than in secondary (15%). and university (7.5%). And, the major of both male and female was higher married (50%), than the single (30.83%) and the widower (19.17%). The household composition of 6 and 8 was significant (55.83%) than that of 1 and 3(38.33 %) and more than 9 (5.83 %). Size of family farms below 0,5ha (60% )was higher  than  between 0,5 ha and 1 ha (27.5% ) and more than 1 ha (12,5% ).

Main crops in the study area

The main crops cultivated in the Birava are presented in the table 2.

Table 2. Main crop cultivated in Birava

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

The banana tree was significant ie the most practiced crop in the Birava area (36.7%) than cassava (22.5%), soybeans (11.7%), bean (10%), sorghum (8.3) and sweet potato (5.8%). Banana crop constitutes the first source of income in this study area.

Cultural methods

The beans small holders cultural methods used in Birava area are presented in the table 3.

Table 3. Cultural systems

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

The cultural systems were significant at 5% level. According the land reserved for bean cultivation, 70.9% of farmers have below 20 ares, 24.1% between 20 to 40 ares and 5% of them have more than 40 ares. However, the type of plowing most practiced was flat plowing (89.1%) and 10.9% small holders practiced plowing on mounds or ridges. According to the preference of farmers to practice flat plowing, 60% of them affirmed that the practice of a flat plowing is a routine, 25% it is an easy and fast way and this technic requires less expensive labor (11.7%) and increasing the fertility (3.3%), additionally plowing on mounds or ridges favored interventions on the soil. Again 95.8% of farmers carried out flight sowing and 4.2% of them the row sowing. The time of sowing varies in this study area. In cultural season A, the period of sowing is the first rains (end of September - mid - October) and the cultural season (B) carried out in February - March. In marshes, the sowing is done at the start of the dry season. Thus, 69.2% of small holders sow beans at the beginning of February - March in season B and in season A 67.5% of farmers sow beans in early September, mid-October, especially twining beans. 66.7% do not sow the beans in season C because in this period beans are grown in lowlands, farmers have small plots in marshes. Only 21.7% and 11.6% of them sow beans in April-May and end of May to mid-June. Additional 46.7% of farmers carry out weeding in their bean crops and 5.8% of them do not have any maintenance. 41.7% of small holders carried out the weeding and 5.8% done defoliation. The majority of farmers (70.8%) used staking on climbing beans to increase production and 29.2% of them do not used stakes because of their lack. Again, the majority of farmers (37.5%) practiced the crops rotation  such as sweet potato, beans, sorghum, 27.5%  of them do not rotated crops, 19.2%  practiced the crop rotation such as  cassava, bean, sweet potato and other  15.8% sweet potato, sorghum, bean.Additional,34.2% of farmers associated cassava with beans and maize, 22.5% of them associated cassava + beans + maize + sorghum, 12.5% banana + bean, 9.2% soybean + cassava + sorghum, 7.5% cassava and sweet potato monoculture, 5.8% bean + corn + soybean, 5% peas + beans + corn and 3.3% sweet potato + corn.

Application of inputs

The information’s on the use of fertilizers are presented on the table 4.

Table 4. Use of fertilizers 

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

The majority of the farmers (66.7%) do not used fertilizers and 33.3% of them used it. Additionally, 66.6% of small holders used organic fertilizer in their field, 1.7% of them mineral fertilizer and 31.7% did not used mineral or organic fertilizer in their fields. The 25% of the farmers  do not use mineral fertilizers on the bean crop due to the unavailability, 61.7% of them affirmed fertilizer  are very cost,  8.3 % have no technical expertise in the use of fertilizers and  5% for other causes.

The  bean seeds sources are presented in the table 5.

Table 5.  Bean seeds sources

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

A large number of farmers (74.2%) used seeds found on the local market with mediocre quality and often contaminated. Only 25% of them used seeds from their own stock and 0.8% buys good quality seeds from the seed production service through its member associations. Additional, 41.7% of small holders did not use selected seeds due to the unavailability, 29.2% of them because they are very expensive, 15.8% affirmed because of the lack of information and 13.3% because the selected seeds are not necessary.

Diseases and pests

The table 6 is presented diseases and pests in study areasTable 6. Diseases and pests

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

The ability to identify diseases was significant at 5 % level but 89.2% of beans small holders claim to observe diseases in their bean crops, they didn’t known the disease identification.This is due to the lack of information about the symptoms characteristic of the disease. Numerous diseases such as viral, bacterial and fungal limited bean yields in this area for example anthracnose (colletotrichum lindemuthianum), angular spot disease (Iseriopsis griseilli), and ascochytosis (ascochyta phaseoli), which are the most serious diseases in high altitude areas. However, 10.8% of famers did not  interested to the diseases. According to the strategies used to fight against diseases 40.8% of those farmers affirmed the use of healthy seeds to control diseases, 32.5% used resistant varieties and 12.2% mixed beans crops varieties. Bean pests were significant at 5% level 36.7% of farmers affirmed black aphids bean pests attack. The other pests are bean fly (33.3%), cutworms (15.8%) and rats (14.2%). 

Estimation production

The yield and raison of yield decrease are presented in the table 7

Table 7.  Yield and raison of yield decrease

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

The 44.2% farmers  obtained yield between 200 to 400 Kg / ha, 21.6% of them  between 150 to 200Kg / ha, 19.2%  between 400 to 500 Kg / ha and only 7.5% obtained  more than 500kg per hectare of yield and 7.5 % less than 150Kg / ha. The factors linked to the climate have a negative influence on the yield such that 99.1% of farmers mentioned the problem of prolonged dryness which causes the plants to burn and the soil to dry up.

Farmers training 

The farmers training on bean cultivation is presented in the table 8.

Table 8. Farmers training on bean cultivation

Figures in the parentheses indicate Percentage. ** indicates levels of significance at 5 percent.

The technical training in bean production was significant at 5 % level, only 5% of small holders received training and 95% of the them did not receive any technical training in bean production. According farmers' desire and commitment to increase yield was insignificant, thus 36.7% of them suggest the respect for cultivation techniques, 32.5% need the access to appropriate agricultural inputs and 30.8% want technical staff to intervene.

The farmers (36%) affirmed that the pests’ bean crop attack such as black aphids and 89.2% observed the diseases in their bean crops. The  farmers practice plowing on mounds or ridges, while this plowing favors interventions on the soils that risk injuring the roots which leads to an increase in the frequency of diseases and a reduction in the cultivable area. Beans are sensitive to a range of pests and diseases including rodents, bean shoot fly, leafhoppers, chrysomelids and bruchids and root rots [13-15] According selected seeds, a large number of farmers (74.2%) used seeds found on the local market, this seed is of average to poor quality and often contaminated. Cultivable land per household is still insufficient because 60% of the population has an area of less than 0.5 hectares. Our result joined [16] who reported for example, a number of analysts classify smallholders based on a threshold size of 2 hectares. The numbers of smallholder farmers presented in the beginning of the introduction are based on this 2 hectares threshold. However, across countries, the distribution of farm sizes depends on a number of agroecological and demographic conditions, as well as on economic and technological factors. Two hectares in an arid region of Sub Saharan Africa do not produce as much as two hectares of good quality land in the Black Sea region. In Kenya, classifying as smallholders those farmers who farm land smaller than 2 hectares and adding them up would nearly result in the entire arable sector. In other countries, such as Nicaragua, farms smaller than 2 hectares would be really small. The 2 hectares threshold does not provide any meaningful information for an analysis across countries

Additional, a large number of farmers (29.2%) did not stake on climbing beans, while staking can double production.The use of appropriate staking is the key to good yields of climbing bean, yet the availability and costs of staking material represent a major limitation [17,14] Indeed, the lack of financial means which prevent a large number of farmers from obtaining chemical fertilizers (61.7%) and the majority of small holders (95%) did not receive any technical training. Our result joined the results of those authors [18-20] who reported that major constraints include poor soil fertility, severe land degradation, high dependence on rainfall, low availability and poor quality of seeds and fertilizers, economic constraints like low income and lack of financial support, as well as insufficient policies and guidelines.

In addition, as elsewhere, factors linked to the climate have a negative influence on yield, such that 99.1% of farmers mentioned the problem of the prolonged dry season which arises from year to year. Several authors such as [21-26]reported that these relatively low yields can be explained mainly by the many kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses that affect the bean during its cultivation. 

In order of importance, the cultivation of beans is subject to the following constraints as stated: pests and diseases, poor cultivation techniques, climatic disturbance, lack of agricultural techniques. However, 36% of the farmers affirmed that the pests’ bean crop attack such as black aphids and 89.2% observed the diseases in their bean crops. The  farmers practice plowing on mounds or ridges, while this plowing favors interventions on the soils that risk injuring the roots which leads to an increase in the frequency of diseases and a reduction in the cultivable area. According selected seeds, a large number of farmers (74.2%) used seeds found on the local market, this seed is of average to poor quality and often contaminated. Cultivable land per household is still insufficient because 60% of the population has an area of ​​less than 0.5 hectares. Additional, a large number of farmers (29.2%) did not stake on climbing beans, while staking can double production. Indeed, the lack of financial means which prevent a large number of farmers from obtaining chemical fertilizers (61.7%) and the majority of small holders (95%) did not receive any technical training. In addition, as elsewhere, factors linked to the climate have a negative influence on yield, such that 99.1% of farmers mentioned the problem of the prolonged dry season which arises from year to year. We recommend accentuating extension efforts in the field of cultivation techniques, fertilization without forgetting the integration of agro-forestry tree and granting long-term agricultural loans with an interest rate that is bearable by farmers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Mr  Jean Augustin  Rubabura Kituta  for correcting this paper and all the Authority of ISEAV/Mushweshwe for their support. Thanks are also due to Agent of ISEAV/Mushweshwe for the collect data for this study.

We declare that there is no conflict of interest with the publication of this manuscript. No human/animal participants were involved in the preparation of this manuscript.

No funding sources

The study was approved by the ISEAV-Mushweshwe, B.P :19/Bukavu, République Démocratique du Congo .

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