Farmers’ Perceptions on Drought, Low Soil Fertility, Coping Strategies and Preferred Traits of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Balaka District of Malawi

Background: Bean is an important nutritious food and cash crop. productivity low mostly due to various abiotic, biotic socio-economic constraints. The aims of this study were assess constraints high bean seed yield productivity, determine farmers’ perceptions on drought soil fertility, strategies farmers are practicing adapt the preferred traits. Methods: A Participatory rural appraisal approach was applied by administering a questionnaire 139 household representatives from Bazale, Phalula Utale areas in 2017. Result: Farmers (68.4%) cultivated beans under irrigation winter (dry) season most them practiced sole cropping. Constraints include fertility (31.7%) deforestation (81.3%) contributed lot. (44.6%) implemented afforestation, 32.4% grew early maturing varieties, while 20.9% conservation agriculture. not involved variety development as indicated 91.4% respondents. However, determinate plant type (95.7%), creamy taste (61.2%) number pods per (47.4%). These traits need be considered ongoing improvement program(s) increase adoption rate improved varieties.