Dry beans are a significant global crop, widely cultivated for their nutritional value and versatility. An important source of affordable protein in developing countries, dry beans are also becoming increasingly popular in developed countries as a healthy meat alternative rich in micronutrients, high in dietary fibre, and low in saturated fat.

Dry beans are also useful as a protein supplement in livestock feed.

While a niche market in South Africa, dry beans play an important role in food security. Commercial production is concentrated in Limpopo, the Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga, while dry beans are also grown by small-scale producers for household consumption and traded locally for income generation.

Market overview

Although dry beans have historically comprised a small portion of South Africa’s total summer crop area (less than 1%), they remain a viable alternative crop for both small- and large-scale producers. With effective farming practices and favourable market conditions, dry beans can deliver good returns per hectare.

South African producers have the choice of selling directly to buyers or supplying wholesalers and co-operatives as the first point of sale. Beans can also be sold to packers or processors.

Small white canning beans are in consistent demand from processors but to gain access to this market, farmers must do their research and plant the correct cultivars, advises the Agricultural Research Council Grain Crops (ARC-GC) Institute.

Red speckled beans have a strong market share and can command premium prices, although cultivars with smaller seed sizes are often less desirable and may be penalised against.

The Painted Lady cultivar, known for its susceptibility to disease and strict quality requirements, is mainly grown under irrigation in the Western Cape. Due to these constraints, the market is limited. Large white kidney beans also have a slim local market, but they can yield high returns in seasons without oversupply, says ARC G-C.

Selecting cultivars

Cultivar recommendations are based on findings from the National Dry Bean Cultivar Trials, which are supported by funding from ARC, the Dry Bean Producers’ Organisation (DPO), and seed companies.

The trials are conducted in collaboration with several partners, including the DPO, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, agricultural co-operatives, and private companies.

For cultivar recommendations, farmers can contact ARC-GC directly. Alternatively, the DPO website www.droebone.com is an excellent resource to download the 2023/24 recommendations, read cultivar descriptions or provincial performance reports. ARC-GC offers the following general guidelines for farmers considering dry beans:

• The first step is to decide on a seed type, e.g., red speckled beans, small white canning beans, etc.
• Select cultivars with the highest mean yield and yield reliability.
• Choose cultivars according to the growing season of a particular production area.
• Become familiar with the characteristics of the chosen cultivar, including disease susceptibility, seed size and shattering (when seeds or pods detach from the plant prematurely, leading to reduced yield and income).
• Determine the market for a specific cultivar (contact the DPO for information about demand and pricing).
• Seed can be ordered from local cooperatives, seed dealers or seed companies. Order one season in advance to prevent disappointment.
• When planting a new cultivar, remember it will take at least two to three years to produce sufficient certified seed.
• Insist on disease-free certified seed. If unavailable, ensure that the seed is certified.
  

Climatic requirements

Dry beans are an annual crop that thrives in a warm climate, growing optimally at temperatures between 18 and 24°C. Minimum temperatures should remain above 13°C, but day temperatures below 20°C will delay maturity and result in empty mature pods.

During flowering, the maximum temperature should not exceed 30°C.

“Under hot, dry conditions before harvest time, beans will ripen on average 10 days earlier than normal. Under cool wet conditions, beans ripen 10 to 20 days later than normal,” ARC G-C says.

An annual rainfall of 600 to 650mm is optimal while under irrigation, dry beans require 400 to 500mm of rain during the growing season.

Planting date

Planting should only commence after the threat of frost is over. In South Africa, planting dates in frost-prone areas range from November to mid-January, while in frost-free areas, planting in March and April is best.

Dry beans have a relatively short growing season, reaching maturity in about 115 days. However, the length of the growing season is ultimately determined by temperature, especially nighttime temperature.

“Cultivars with short growing seasons and determinate growth habits tend to have lower yield potential, especially in areas with cool nights, compared to those with longer growing seasons that are better adapted to higher night temperatures,” says ARC G-C.

Planting practices

Dry beans should be planted in a well-prepared, deep and firm seedbed to ensure good contact between seed and soil, and moisture absorption. The seedbed should also be level as this allows for planting at a uniform depth.

A planting depth of 2.5cm to 7cm is recommended with seeds requiring warm soil and moist conditions for optimal emergence and a good plant population.

Dry beans grow best in fertile, sandy loam to loam soils with good drainage, moderate organic matter content, and a pH of 5, 8 to 6,5. Farmers practising conservation tillage should manage crop residues carefully to avoid excess buildup from the previous season.

A density of 150 000/ha to 200 000/ha (75mm apart and 900mm between rows) with 13 to 14 seeds/m² is advised. Farmers should avoid planting large areas with cultivars that are inclined to shatter. Such cultivars should be harvested as soon as possible after ripening, ARC-GC advises.

Fertilisation and crop rotation

Dry beans grow best in soils that were well fertilised in previous seasons. Maintaining good general soil fertility is more beneficial than direct fertilisation, as dry beans are sensitive to high concentrations of mineral salts.

Soil analysis is key to determining deficiencies, and despite the crop being able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, it cannot be assumed that the nitrogen in the soil is sufficient.

As dry beans make nitrogen available to follow-up crops, they are valuable in rotation systems. Ideally, dry beans should follow maize in a rotation. However, they should not be planted on the same land more than once every three years. Sorghum can also be included in the rotation with maize.

However, sunflower should be avoided due to the risk of Sclerotinia build-up. In areas where wheat production is viable, or where green feed is needed for livestock, wheat is also advantageous in a rotation plan.

Typical diseases

Disease occurrence and severity in dry beans can vary from season to season, influenced by environmental conditions and farming practices.

“Cultivars do not differ much with respect to their susceptibility to bacterial diseases, root diseases and Ascochyta,” ARC G-C points out. To reduce risk and protect yields, an integrated approach to disease management is advised.

Ascochyta is a fungal disease that can result in severe yield losses. Cool, rainy and humid conditions provide the right environment, and it presents as small, round dark-brown spots on the leaves first, then later on the pods.

Dry beans are particularly vulnerable to Anthracnose, a common and serious fungal disease that can infect the crop from the seedling stage to maturity. This opportunistic pathogen is highly damaging under favourable disease conditions, resulting in yield and quality losses of up to 100% in commercial cultivars. Symptoms appear on leaves, stems, and pods in the form of black to dark purple necrotic lesions.

“Outbreaks can be effectively controlled by implementing an integrated control programme with the help of a certified plant pathologist,” says ARC G-C.

Angular leaf spot (ALS) is another fungal disease that can cause yield losses of up to 80% by reducing seed size and pod mass. “All small-seeded cultivars are resistant to ALS, but most large-seeded cultivars are susceptible,” says ARC G-C. A temperature of 24°C with high humidity, rainfall, and the presence of dew create favourable disease conditions. ALS causes premature defoliation in severe infestations.

The most significant bacterial diseases are common bacterial blight, halo bacterial blight, and bacterial brown spot. They mainly target foliage, pods, and seeds, but can also enter through plant wounds. Planting resistant cultivars, if available, is one of the most effective strategies.

In areas with a history of bacterial diseases, it is recommended to apply copper-containing bactericides during the late vegetative or early flowering stages. However, once symptoms become apparent, chemical treatments are ineffective and will only control the spread.

Outlook for dry beans

The Crop Estimates Committee’s (CEC) third forecast for South Africa’s 2024-25 summer crop production season, released on 30 April 2025, estimates the dry bean harvest at 70 540 tonnes, an increase of 40% year-on-year. But there is scope to “dramatically increase” the production, says Brian Lever, managing director of AGT Foods Africa, which acquired Pannars’ dry beans seed business last year.

This is in light of domestic demand historically outpacing production and therefore leading to imports. He also notes that South African dry beans are of exceptionally high quality compared to those from other exporting countries.

For farmers considering diversifying, integrating dry beans into existing cropping systems can help reduce risk across inputs and yield, and also improve the profitability of their businesses.

For more info phone the ARC-Grain Crops Institute on 018 299 6100.

Sources:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354776334_Composition_of_Raw_and_Processed_Dry_Beans_and_Other_Pulses#:~:text=Dry%20beans%20are%20the%20world’s%20second%20most,increasingly%20popular%20as%20due%20to%20their%20importance (importance)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523048931#s0030 (health benefits)
https://www.agribook.co.za/dry-beans/ (small-scale farmers)
https://droebone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/202133_ARC-Dry-Beans_Manuals.pdf (cultivars, diseases, planting season)
https://sagrainmag.co.za/2024/05/06/dry-bean-production-thwarted-by-opportunistic-seed-borne-disease/ (market, diseases)
https://www.grainsa.co.za/know-the-value-of-dry-beans (market, production, basic info)
https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/phocadownloadpap/Brochures_and_Production_Guidelines/Brochure%20Dry%20beans.pdf (production)
https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-gci/Agronomy/Don’t%20underestimate%20the%20value%20of%20pulse%20production.pdf (population, conclusion) 
https://www.africanfarming.com/2024/02/09/agt-assures-farmers-of-dry-beans-seed-availability/ (conclusion)
https://sagrainmag.co.za/2024/11/11/angular-leaf-spot-on-dry-bean-production/ (diseases)
https://www.grainsa.co.za/bacterial-diseases-of-dry-beans:-every-producer-s-nightmare (diseases)
https://wandilesihlobo.com/2025/04/30/south-africa-expects-an-ample-grain-harvest-this-year/ (CEC dry beans figures)
https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-gci/Plant%20Breeding/Ascochyta%20blight%20of%20the%20common%20bean.pdf (diseases)