Gendered preferences for varieties and traits in Uganda's common bean value chain: insights for breeding programs

Common bean breeding efforts have focused on understanding and developing product profiles that align with farmers' trait preferences with limited emphasis on downstream value chain actors. Varieties that do not consider client-preferred traits are often on the shelves and not adopted by the targeted clients. Thus, considering trait preferences of downstream bean value chain actors like processors, traders and consumers is becoming important as they sometimes differ from those of farmers. This study investigated gender varietal and trait preferences of traders, consumers, and processors for common bean varieties. A mixed method was used to collect data from 75 traders, 21 processors, and 100 consumers in Uganda. Descriptive results identified that short cooking time, thick stew, good taste, and affordability are intertwined and the most preferred traits. Irrespective of gender, actors preferred existing varieties such as NABE 4, Kanyebwa, Masindi Yellow, Nambale Omuwanvu, and NARO BEAN 1 for possessing the most preferred traits. These findings can guide common bean breeders in targeting these traits to meet the needs of men and women processors, traders, and consumers.