Common Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Production Improvements in Sub-Saharan Africa

Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a vital source of food, nutrition, and income for millions of households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite major investments by the Pan African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) in improved varieties, agronomy, and seed systems, farm yields remain low (0.7–1.5 t ha −1 ) compared with the potential yield of >4 t ha −1 . The key challenge is closing the gap between on-station performance and farmer fields. This review focuses on integrated crop management (ICM) as one of PABRA's six core institutional pillars. The analysis covers 1990–2025 as part of PABRA's 30-year celebration since its establishment in 1996. Findings show that interventions evolved from addressing individual constraints to ICM, where improved varieties, combined with soil fertility interventions, crop protection, biofertilizers, seed treatments, liming, and improved cropping systems, offered the greatest productivity gains. The most consistent yield gains were achieved when these interventions were combined in locally adapted packages. For instance, yields rose from about 1 to nearly 5 t ha −1 when inoculation, manure and phosphorus were combined in Rwanda, and multi-country trials recorded gains of up to 80% from phosphorus and potassium application. Rhizobia inoculation increased yields by 32% and up to 126% on responsive soils, but effectiveness depended on adequate phosphorus and the correction of soil acidity, which affects 45-73% of arable land in SSA. Future productivity gains will require improved varieties integrated with validated integrated practices, including chemical control, supported by digital advisory services, biological inputs, climate-smart management, mechanisation, and stronger seed and grain markets.