Socioeconomic Evaluation of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivation in Providing Sustainable Livelihood to the Mountain Populations of Kashmir Himalayas

Abstract

Phaseolus vulgaris L. is the major pulse cultivated and culturally inculcated in the food habits of the locals in the Himalayan mountainous region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. The current study was designed to investigate the role of P. vulgaris cultivation in providing livelihood support and to evaluate its production and consumption patterns correlated with the household variables in the state of AJK. The socio-economic data was collected from nine bean cultivated areas in six districts of AJK. The data was acquired by administrating a total of 522 detailed semi structured questionnaires from a diverse array of the respondents following the snowball technique focusing on yield, consumption, revenue generation and livelihood support provided by bean cultivation. The results revealed that common bean cultivation provided significant livelihood support to the local mountainous populations with an average annual income of 50.80 $/family. Subsequently, bean production contributed an average annual per capita income of 6.81 $ in the area, which was attributed to the large family size. Local populations showed an average bean production of 33.93 kg/family, whereas the average annual bean consumption was recorded as 31.99 kg/family in the region. Bean crops were recorded to have an average price of $1.49/kg, with significant variations in the study area correlated with local yield. A data analysis indicated a strong correlation in bean production and consumption patterns. Common bean farmers had a very small farm size, averaging 0.24 ha, where 100% of farmers cultivated common beans as an intercrop with Maize as the primary crop. A Pearson’s test (p value < 0.05) revealed significant correlations between land holding and bean production as well as consumption, and bean production with annual per capita income. Small farm size, declining soil fertility, low bean pricing and the unavailability of market mechanisms were identified as the major challenges faced by the common bean farmers. It is recommended to employ an integrated bean farming approach to enhance the economic impact of common bean cultivation in the socioeconomic appraisal of the local populations.

New Age of Common Bean

“…snap beans, green beans) [2]. In 2021, global production of dry common bean is estimated at more than 27 million tons on more than 34 million ha [14], feeding more than 300 million people linked to the global agricultural economy [15]. An outstanding feature of the germplasm of common bean is its particularly high diversity [16].…”

Determination of the Appropriate Blended Inorganic Fertilizer Rate Recommendation for the Optimal Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Grain Yield and Profitability in the Dawuro Zone, Ethiopia

“…It is estimated to provide over 50% of the dietary protein needs of households in sub-Saharan Africa, yet its positive impact on cropping systems is often overlooked [4,5]. Common beans are highly valued by low-income individuals who rely on them as a primary source of nutrition due to their afordability compared to meat and fsh [3,6]. Nutritionists highlight their high protein content and rich mix of essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, dietary fber, iron, and zinc, making them an ideal food source [5,7].…”

Non-proteinogenic amino acids mitigate oxidative stress and enhance the resistance of common bean plants against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

“…The global annual yield of common beans is over 27 million tons harvested from about 29 million ha worldwide ( Gepts et al., 2008 ). The common bean is rich in protein and provides moderate amounts of iron, thiamin, and riboflavin to more than 300 million people worldwide ( FAOSTAT, 2023 ; Nasar et al., 2023 ). There are numerous varieties of common beans, including many popular garden types such as pole, snap, string, and bush beans.…”