5 | The story behind the numbers

Production and Export

of Green Beans
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
This publication is the product of a participatory capitalization process facilitated by the
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) for the Program for Rural Enterprise
Management, Health, and the Environment
(PROGRESA, its Spanish acronym)

Coordinator:
Santos Palma Munguia, CRS
Facilitators:
Erika Eliana Mosquera, CIAT
Jhon Jairo Hurtado Bermúdez, CIAT
Editors:
Erika Eliana Mosquera, CIAT
Natalia Gutiérrez, CIAT
Translation:
Lynn Menéndez
Production Edition:
Bill Hardy
Design and Layout:
Carlos Andrés Polo, CIAT
Daniel Gutiérrez, CIAT
Nicaragua, 2015

Production and Export

of Green Beans
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Gustavo Adolfo Hernández Ocampo, Cooperativa La Unión

Rommel Noé Morales Rivera, FIDER
Rodolfo Ramón Valdivia Lorente, CRS
Edwin Castillo, UNISPICE
Santos Palma, CRS
Contributions
Norman Padilla, FIDER
Juan Alberto Molina, CRS
Jorge Brenes, CRS
 Flowering green beans.

Production and export of green beans

Case profile
The Program for Rural Enterprise Management, with UNISPICE1 and the following cooperatives:
Health, and the Environment (PROGRESA, its Sacaclí, Señor de Esquipulas, Blanca Arauz, the
Spanish acronym), funded by the United States Society of Producers and Marketers of Limited
Department of Agriculture (USDA), promotes the Liability (SOPROCOM, its Spanish acronym), the
strengthening of value chains of beans, vegetables, Padre Odorico de Andrea Multi-service Cooperative
fruits, and dual-purpose livestock in the Nicaraguan (COOSEMPODA, its Spanish acronym), and the
departments of Jinotega, Madriz, Matagalpa, Agri-Services Center of the Multi-Service Producers’
and Nueva Segovia through executing partner Cooperative of Jinotega (COOSMPROJIN, its Spanish
organizations: the Nicaraguan Association for Social acronym).
Development (ASDENIC, its Spanish acronym), the
Nicaragua had no precedent for the cultivation
Foundation for Research and Rural Development
and marketing of green beans, so this initiative was
(FIDER, its Spanish acronym), La Unión Multi-service
the first of its kind in the country. 2 Experiences in
Cooperative LLC, Cáritas Estelí, Cáritas Matagalpa,
exporting other vegetable crops such as tomato
the Institute for Human Promotion (INPRHU, its
(Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper
Spanish acronym), the Association for Community
(Capsicum annuum L.) had involved high costs and
Agricultural Diversification and Development
excessive applications of pesticides, many of which
(ADDAC, its Spanish acronym), and the National
are banned by more demanding markets such as
Livestock Commission (CONAGAN, its Spanish
those of Europe and the United States that seek
acronym).
contaminant-free products complying with food
As part of the search for economic alternatives and safety norms.
diversification of agricultural production for small
Nicaragua has optimal soil and climatic conditions for
farmers in northern Nicaragua, PROGRESA joined
vegetable production. However, numerous factors
efforts for the production and marketing of green
limit vegetable production and consumption in the
beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), also known as string
country, some of which are determined by climate
beans, French beans, or snap beans, through its
variability, high production costs, price volatility,
partners FIDER, Cáritas Matagalpa, and La Unión
limited technical know-how in crop management
Multi-service Cooperative LLC, in coordination

2 To complement the information about this initiative, see the report

aired by the Nicaraguan TV news program “TV Noticias,” Channel 2:
1 For more information about UNISPICE visit: www.unispice.com. http://bit.ly/ejote_en_nicaragua.

Production and export of green beans 4


Impact Statistics
• 87.87 hectares of green beans
planted by 100 producers.
• Average profits per hectare of
US$2,456, with a fixed market
as well as a fixed price.
• Exports equivalent to US$0.7
million.
• Labor costs per hectare
equivalent to US$1,700 –
2,000.
market through UNISPICE, a Guatemalan company
dedicated to the purchase of products such as snow
peas, sweet peas, green beans, baby carrots, and
broccoli for export to the United States and Europe.
Green beans differ from common beans mainly in
their end use. Common beans are grown for the
production of grain. Green bean cultivars, on the
other hand, have been developed to produce pods
that can be harvested in their immature state. In
addition, green bean pods should be preferably
fiberless (or at least have reduced fiber content) and,
compared with common bean pods, their diameter
should be smaller and their texture finer.
Green bean crops have shown excellent adaptation
and growth in the area under the umbrella of
PROGRESA, presenting outstanding yields and
generating income for local farmers and families.
Harvesting the crop, however, is labor-intensive,
mainly involving female labor.

This report aims to share the stakes, risks, lessons

practices, poor soil and water management,
learned, and outcome of PROGRESA’s initiative to
difficulties in collecting and transporting produce,
promote and assist Nicaraguan vegetable producers
and few marketing channels at the national and
in the production and export of green beans.
international level.

Green beans have a short production cycle. Seed

germinates within 5 days and the harvest begins
60 days after planting. Yields are high and so
are production costs. The crop requires specific
agroclimatic conditions to grow and develop
properly: altitudes of 600 m above sea level and
deep soils with high organic matter content, good
internal and surface drainage, loamy texture, and a
pH between 5.5 and 6.7. Several areas in Nicaragua
offer these environmental conditions, mainly in the
departments of Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Estelí.

Marketing standards focus on the physical

characteristics of the pod: a length of 11 to 14 cm
and a diameter of 5 to 7 mm. Green beans grown
at altitudes between 1,100 and 1,300 m above sea
level meet these requisites between 55 and 60 days
after planting and, when planted at altitudes of 650
to 1,100 m above sea level, between 48 and 55 days
after planting.

Green beans are used in gourmet cuisine and the

immature tender pods are consumed in different
ways, highly prized by consumers, especially in
Canada and the United States, the main buyers
of this product. The production of green beans
therefore represents a great opportunity for
Nicaraguan vegetable producers served by
PROGRESA partners as this product has a secure

5 The story behind the numbers


Initial situation
Both men and women vegetable producers in the
area under the umbrella of the initiative are small
and medium farmers, with limited access to credit
and technical assistance. Only a few financial
entities in Nicaragua that support the vegetable
production sector and the country’s financial system
exclude many producers because of their economic
conditions.
Vegetable production involves numerous
intermediaries and most consumers purchase
vegetables from informal markets that lack basic
infrastructure to adequately store produce, which
is very risky for consumers from the public health
viewpoint. In these conditions, products can be
easily contaminated with microorganisms such
Production and export of green beans
Green bean production process
and harvesting.
as Escherichia coli and Salmonella (biological
contamination), with pesticide residues and
mycotoxins3 (chemical contamination), and with
foreign material that enters in contact with the
product such as cans, glass, stones, and hair
(physical contamination).
The vegetable sector is characterized by its high
employment generation capacity for both family and
hired labor, averaging between 170 and 185 person-
days per hectare (more than 5 months of work per
year), without taking into account the indirect jobs
generated along the vegetable production chain
such as intermediaries and transporters. About
15,000 small- and medium-scale farmers grow
vegetables in northern and central Nicaragua.
3 Natural waste produced by some fungi.
6

Implementing the initiative
In June 2012, CRS staff participated as guest
speakers on “Leveraging Municipal Government
Support for Value Chains in Nicaragua” at the
Cracking the Nut Conference held in Washington,
D.C., which addressed “Attracting private sector
investment to rural and agricultural markets.” At this
conference, UNISPICE also shared its experience with
commercial alliances with small vegetable producers
in Guatemala. After hearing UNISPICE’s presentation,
CRS found that both institutions had common
interests and informed UNISPICE that it would soon
launch the PROGRESA program in Nicaragua to
support vegetable producers. The program, funded
by USDA, cought the attention of the Guatemalan
company, which led to a visit and subsequent
involvement in the new program.
During this visit to Nicaragua, UNISPICE
representatives met with a technical team of the
Investment Promotion Agency PRONICARAGUA,4
to learn about government policies and incentives
to promote foreign investment. PROGRESA
and UNISPICE later held other meetings with
representatives of private banks present in target
areas regarding the production of green beans,
which explains the vast scope of this initiative.
Meetings were subsequently held with the
Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua
(APEN, its Spanish acronym), the Export Processing
Center (CETREX, its Spanish acronym), national
customs, and the Institute for Crop and Animal
4 Governmental entity that promotes foreign investment in Nicaragua.
7 The story behind the numbers
Technical assistance, crucial in
green bean production.
Protection and Health (IPSA, its Spanish acronym) –
all entities involved in the bureaucratic procedures of
exporting and importing in Nicaragua.
Finally, with the participation of UNISPICE, meetings
were held with PROGRESA beneficiaries in areas
presenting favorable agroclimatic conditions
for growing green beans to promote the crop.
Promotional meetings were also held with FIDER,
La Unión Multi-service Cooperative LLC, and Cáritas
Matagalpa – all program partners – to address the
importance of establishing commercial relationships
between participating cooperatives and UNISPICE,
something that is facilitated by this type of meeting.
Another outcome was the decision to validate the
adaptability of green bean varieties in areas under
the umbrella of PROGRESA, with participation by
the following cooperatives that work with partners
FIDER and La Unión Multi-service Cooperative LLC:
Sacaclí, COOSMPROJIN, COOSEMPODA, Señor
de Esquipulas, SOPROCOM, and Blanca Arauz.
Producers were able to benefit from PROGRESA´s
assistance through FIDER and La Unión Multi-service
Cooperative LLC. During the process, the Odorico
D’Andrea Foundation (FODA, its Spanish acronym)
also joined this endeavor. FODA members are
directly involved in crop production.
Variety validation
With the support of the General Directorate of Plant
and Animal Protection and Health of the Nicaraguan
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (DGPSA-
MAGFOR, its Spanish acronym), now IPSA, two
green bean varieties (Sapporo and Claudine) were
validated at 14 sites in the departments of Matagalpa
and Jinotega to
1. Evaluate their adaptability based on technical
parameters related to pod yield.
2. Understand crop management and the major
phytosanitary and agronomic problems affecting
the crop.
3. Determine the cost-benefit ratio.
The cultivars were planted on a pilot scale from 18
to 21 June 2013 in plots ranging from 0.176 to 0.704
hectare in size. Trial results were analyzed and
interpreted based on an adaptability analysis, 5 which
serves to determine domains of recommendation
(site-specific adaptation of the crop based on
validations and crop management practices used).
Cost-benefit analysis (gross income versus total
production costs) was used to determine
crop profitability.
The results of the adaptability analysis indicated that
variety Claudine yielded more (9,116 kg/ha) than
variety Sapporo (8,832 kg/ha), surpassing it by 3.2%
and in overall average yield of all 14 sites, regardless
of the variety, by 1.3%. This indicates that both
cultivars showed little variation in yield among the
different validation sites. Both cultivars showed good
adaptation to prevailing soil and climatic conditions
and crop management practices applied. Results of
the economic analysis indicated that variety Claudine
showed higher benefits, obtaining a cost-benefit
ratio of 1.73 compared with 0.69 for variety Sapporo.
The main phytosanitary problem observed in plots
planted to these varieties was their susceptibility to
the soil fungi complex (Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia
solani, Fusarium spp.), which causes damping-off.
Overall, 4 hectares were planted during the
validation phase, with the participation of 14
producers, yielding 32,721 kg in total with an average
yield of 9,430 kg/ha and producing a net income
of US$15,118.
Based on the results of the analysis of domains of
recommendation, the initiative decided to continue
working with both varieties. Variety Claudine
was found to perform very well in favorable
environments, where producers apply efficient
crop management practices. However, both variety
Claudine and variety Sapporo were found to perform
similarly in unfavorable environments.
5 To release a new variety or introduce a new crop in Nicaragua, it must
first be validated at different sites. The type of analysis required is that
proposed by Hildebrand and Russell, as cited in Pedroza (2007).
Production and export of green beans
The entire validation process was accompanied
with training and technical assistance on crop
management and post - harvest handling of the crop,
provided by a UNISPICE technician. Three extension
workers of the initiative received training and they,
in turn, have followed through on the process and
shared the knowledge acquired with new technicians
working with PROGRESA.
A field day was also held at one of the test plots
located in the rural community of Sisle, municipality
of Jinotega, to promote the cultivation of green
beans and give local producers, extension
workers of PROGRESA, cooperatives, and other
entities the opportunity to observe the crop and
better understand its agronomic management,
phytosanitary problems, production costs, harvest
aspects, postharvest handling, and marketing. The
event was attended by 130 individuals, including 100
producers from the different municipalities under the
umbrella of the initiative and 30 others (technicians
of partner organizations and staff of CRS and the
Ministry of Agriculture).
Strategies for producing and marketing
green beans
PROGRESA partners (FIDER, La Unión Multi-
service Cooperative LLC, Cáritas Matagalpa), with
the support of CRS and participating cooperatives,
selected a group of producers to be in charge of
production based on the following criteria: access to
farms with conditions that favored the establishment
of green beans, experience in handling vegetables,
availability of water, willingness to learn new
techniques, access to credit, and status as
co-op members.
Cooperatives, together with PROGRESA, supported
producers with financial resources, training, and
technical assistance for crop production. They also
signed a formal contract with the company UNISPICE
to market the produce, giving legality to the initiative
and evidencing the level of commitment on
both sides.
These cooperatives played a very important role in
the production process of green beans, providing
financial assistance to co–op members in the form
of low-interest loans (1.5% to 2% per month, plus
2% commission on total sales of product). Loan
approval was also based on a technical appraisal to
corroborate the main needs that producers would
satisfy with the loan.
8
To approve loans, visits were first made to the
areas where the crops would be established and an
estimation was made not only of the costs of labor
for initial phases of cultivation but also the costs of
installing the irrigation system, fuel expenditures,
seed requirements, soil preparation (plowing and/or
machinery), and leasing of land (if the producer did
not own land).
After site inspection and estimation of costs, a formal
request for credit for the amount determined by the
technical team was submitted to the cooperative,
following co–op procedures for approval by its
Administrative Council. Once the request was
approved, funds were disbursed to co–op members
in cash or check as they incurred different
related expenses.
The purchase of agricultural inputs and materials
such as pesticides, fertilizers, plastic mulch, and
irrigation accessories is done through farm service
agencies, owned by cooperatives, which also grant
members credit, which is paid back at harvest.
Interest rates can be as high as 10%, depending on
the credit policy of each cooperative regarding the
farm services it offers.
Cooperatives have resorted to FIDER, which has
credit programs in place to finance production and
to support producers with the high costs of labor
during harvesting of the crop, estimated at US$1,700
– 2,000 per ha.
UNISPICE signed a contract with cooperatives in
which, by mutual agreement, the product would be
purchased at a fixed price (US$0.48 per pound) and
UNISPICE would assume 15% of the loss of rejected
produce as an incentive to promote green bean
production in the country. Producers, on the other
hand, agreed to produce export-quality green beans,
and apply recommended pesticides only to ensure
product safety.
A planting schedule was prepared with the
participation of UNISPICE and the cooperative.
This schedule indicated the number of plantings
per week, the area to be planted, the number
of participating producers, and planting dates.
The schedule aimed to ensure sufficient volume
of production for harvest to justify product
transportation to Guatemala and meet that country’s
market demand.
An estimation of volume of production per producer
is made one week before harvest and data are
reported to UNISPICE so it can formalize the
corresponding product import license and arrange
9 The story behind the numbers
transportation. The information on production is
also reported to Nicaragua’s Ministry of Agriculture,
known until recently as MAGFOR, so it can issue the
corresponding export permit, and to IPSA so it can
issue the corresponding plant health certificate.
Crop phytosanitary and nutritional management
involved the design of a pesticide application
schedule that included the use of only products
with low environmental impact, some of biological
origin (Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis,
garlic extract, citrus extract, oil palm extract, neem
extract, spinosad, azoxytrobin, etc.) and other
permitted synthetic products (such as cypermethrin,
imidacloprid, copper sulfate pentahydrate, lambda
cialothrin, iprodione, sulfur, spirotetramat, diazinon,
glyphosate, and boscalid + pyraclostrobin).
One of PROGRESA’s strategies to promote a
better understanding of crop management
among producers was the use of participatory
methodologies that involved community promoters.
Two farmer field schools were implemented by the
cooperatives of COOSMPROJIN and Sacaclí, with the
participation of 30 producers.
Production constraints
Winds as well as the high incidence of whiteflies
(Bemisia tabaci) affect green bean production in
low-lying areas, reducing crop yields. To minimize
their impact, plantings are covered with a synthetic
fabric (Agribon), which isolates the crop from
whitefly populations for at least 35 to 40 days after
planting.
At first, the harvested product did not meet the
quality standards required for export because
producers lacked experience in handling the
product. The average percentage of rejection was
27.65%, mainly due to dehydration, over-ripeness,
malformation, mechanical damage, and spots
caused by diseases. To reduce the percentage of
rejection, UNISPICE rented a cold room that helped
reduce dehydration and over-ripeness of fruit. In this
way, green beans could be harvested at optimum
maturity, without fear of crop losses. Crop nutrition
and disease and pest management, particularly
whitefly control, were also improved using protected
agriculture,6 which helped reduce the problem
of malformations and spots caused by diseases
in harvested produce. In the case of mechanical
damage, farm workers responsible for harvesting
6 More information about PROGRESA’s experience in protected
agriculture can be found in the pertinent systematization report
on this topic.
the crop were trained by producers-land owners in
proper techniques and there has also been closer
supervision during harvest.
Seed importation also faced several setbacks.
Because these were new materials that had not been
previously registered in the country, it was necessary
to seek the support of La Unión Multi-service
Cooperative LLC because this co–op already had a
license to export and import agricultural products.
The permission granted to introduce seed covered
only the pilot-scale trials, with the commitment that
DGPSA (now IPSA) would monitor the validation
Production and export of green beans
process. Since then, IPSA has closely followed the
entire production process, reception of harvested
produce, storage, product exportation, and seed
importation, which has been instrumental in ensuring
that the exported product complies with food
safety norms.
The shortage of local labor to harvest green beans
in some areas, such as La Concordia, makes it
necessary to bring in workers from another area
of Jinotega, mainly the Saraguasca community.
Because of this, some areas suitable for green bean
cultivation have reduced their areas planted to
this crop.
10

Current situation
From June 2013 to March 2015, 100 producers,
members of the aforementioned six cooperatives,
established 87.87 hectares of green beans in
the municipalities of Jinotega and Matagalpa.
UNISPICE´s projection for 2015 was 188 hectares per
year, with the participation of 120 producers.
The average yield obtained in 2015 was
7,629 kg/ha (Table 1), and UNISPICE purchased
the product at a price of US$1.06 per kg, which
translated into an average gross income of US$8,056
per hectare per crop cycle (60–65 days). Estimated
production costs were US$5,600 per hectare,
which means that the gross profit per hectare was
US$2,456 (gross profit of 30.5% on sales and a cost-
benefit ratio of 1.44). In addition, the percentage of
rejection decreased from 27.65% to 10%, although
the same causes of rejection still persist (over-
ripeness, malformed pods, mechanical damage,
spots caused by diseases, dehydration).
The average area planted per producer was 0.33
ha at each planting. Investment or production costs
required to produce 0.33 ha of the crop (planting,
credit flow, inputs, labor, harvesting, and marketing)
amounted to US$1,848. Each producer obtained an
average gross profit of US$810 every three months,
or depending on the planting schedule agreed
between UNISPICE and the cooperatives.
Producers have the option to improve their crop
yields depending on the type of management they
give their crops. For example, Armando Picado,
11
Alejandro Enrique Centeno, green bean
producer from the municipality of La
Concordia, located in Jinotega.
a producer of the community of Las Lomas,
municipality of Jinotega, invested approximately
US$6,826/ha and obtained an average yield of 13,707
kg/ha (after discarding losses). This translated into
a gross income of US$14,475, leaving him with a
gross margin of 52.8% and a cost-benefit ratio of
2.12. Potentially, the crop could cost US$7,500/ha,
producing yield of 18,117 kg/ha, which would leave
a gross margin of 60.9% and a cost-benefit ratio of
2.42.
Moreover, some producers, for example, Solomón
Picado, Filemón Díaz, Lisandro Enrique Picado,
Nora Blandón, and Alejandro Centeno, are planting
permanent crops of green beans and have stopped
planting other crops such as lettuce, tomato, bell
pepper, and common beans, which have a high
incidence of pests and diseases and unstable prices
at harvest. Crop management of green beans,
however, is easy. The same holds true for pest and
disease management. In addition, market prices are
stable and the cultivation of green beans generates a
profit for producers.
The story behind the numbers
Table 1. Area planted to green bean and crop production during the initiative.

Gross Production Cost-

Area Producers Production Yield Profit
Phase income costs benefit
(ha) (no.) (kg) (kg/ha) (US$)
(US$) (US$) ratio

I 4.05 14 37,721 9,314 39,833 22,720 17,113 1.75

II 5.14 15 33,881 6,592 35,778 29,195 6,583 1.23

III 17.44 58 190,274 10,910 200,929 97,664 103,265 2.06

IV 8.70 22 66,343 7,626 70,058 48,720 21,338 1.44

V 14.54 32 92,932 6,391 98,136 81,424 16,713 1.21

VI 38.0 49 249,218 6,558 263,174 212,800 50,374 1.24

Total 87.87 190 670,369 7,629* 707,909 492,523 215,386 1.44

*Average value

The introduction of green beans has opened
opportunities for not only producers but also farm
workers, particularly women, who, for the most part,
are responsible for harvesting the product. In 2015,
workers were paid C$5.50 to 6.60 (US$0.21) per
kilogram harvested. With an average yield of
7,629 kg/ha, the value of labor for harvesting a
hectare can range from US$1,700 to US$2,000,
which accounts for 60% of the income of women.
Because the crop can be produced using protective
measures and irrigation and can be harvested on a
weekly basis, the demand for labor is permanent and
will continue until the weekly deliveries expected by
UNISPICE are met.
This initiative has served to encourage individual
producers from other areas such as Estelí to begin to
plant green beans, with good results so far. A total of
37.5 hectares were established between January and
April 2015, producing average yields of 11,500 kg/ha.
The prospects of sustainability for this crop are
high because, according to information provided
by UNISPICE itself, the company plans, in the short
term, to establish a processing plant in Nicaragua,
creating 60 permanent jobs with the planting of
188 hectares and the annual production of at least
1,500 metric tons. The company is currently renting
a storage facility in the community of Tomatoya,
Jinotega, where the harvested product is received
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
In addition, UNISPICE has a guaranteed market in
the U.S. and Europe, with supply chains in Honduras,
Guatemala, El Salvador, and now in Nicaragua.
Therefore, an additional impact of the introduction of
green beans is the validation of other crops marketed
by UNISPICE, such as snow peas and baby carrots,
which have shown excellent adaptability to local
agro-climatic conditions.
On the other hand, UNISPICE has planned the
implementation of agricultural development projects
in accordance with the company’s policy. For
example, it plans to purchase a farm of at least 15
hectares, where landless producers can establish
their production areas. In these cases, the company
would finance the entire production process.
Among the significant changes that have resulted
from this experience of producing and exporting
green beans, producers mention the creation
of jobs for family and community members, the
improvement of household income, the cancellation
of debts, and the purchase of goods and assets
such as land (as was the case of Solomón Picado,
community of Sisle, Jinotega).
However, the following constraints and risks must still
be addressed:
• Payment of Guatemalan bank commissions, which
is currently borne by the producer, although the
product is delivered in Nicaragua.

Production and export of green beans 12

• Late payments by the company, which often
take up to a month after the product has
been delivered.
• The completion of the process of product
acceptance and rejection in Guatemala, which
means that Nicaraguan producers lose the
opportunity of selling non-exportable green beans
in the domestic market.
• Shortage of local labor at harvest times because
of the high competition for labor not only among
green bean producers from the same community
but also with tobacco growers of Estelí and
vegetable producers of La Concordia. UNISPICE is
currently making two trips a week to Guatemala;
however, producers harvest three to four times per
week to prevent the beans from maturing more
than necessary before reaching the final consumer.
• Only one buyer for this market, which can be very
risky because, first, the buyer tends to establish
the conditions and, second, if for any reason the
buyer went bankrupt or disappeared, all producers
13
now selling green beans in replacement of former
crops would have no buyer for their produce,
which would translate into economic losses
for them.
• Cooperatives are fined if traces of banned
pesticides are found in the exported product.
Some of these pesticides are marketed in the
cooperatives and used in other crops. Once the
harvested green beans reach Guatemala, samples
are taken and sent to the laboratory to determine
which pesticides were used. If traces of banned
pesticides are found, then the cooperative to
which the producer (or producers) using the
banned product belongs is fined.
Finally, based on this experience with UNISPICE
and the lessons learned, the technical team of
PROGRESA prepared a guidebook on how to grow
green beans, aimed for use as a tool by producers,
promoters, field technicians, government institutions,
NGOs, and others to strengthen their technical
competence in crop management.
The story behind the numbers

Lessons learned
• Strategic alliances among CRS, UNISPICE,
PROGRESA partners, and cooperatives have
been fundamental for the execution of this
initiative. Through this collaborative effort,
producers received technical assistance, training,
and funding, and their produce was marketed,
generating income for families and contracts for
local workers.
• To influence high-demand markets, production
must involve techniques and inputs that have a
low environmental impact, use Good Agricultural
Practices (GAPs), and comply with the technical
norms and standards required by the
exporting company.
• To ensure that commercial relationships will be
sustainable after the initiative has come to an end,
cooperatives must nurture a direct relationship
with UNISPICE and be responsible for providing
funding and technical assistance to their members,
with the support of technical resources provided
by the purchasing company.
• The technical assistance plan for producers
in different areas should be revised and
strengthened with the participation of technical
staff of cooperatives and UNISPICE. Because
green beans are a new crop in Nicaragua, there
is little previous experience in crop management.
In addition, extension agents offering technical
assistance to producers of green beans are also
involved in numerous other activities within the
project. Because green beans currently play a very
important role in the rural economy, PROGRESA
Production and export of green beans
Green bean harvesting, in which a
significant number of women participate.
or participating cooperatives should assign
extension agents to work exclusively with green
bean producers. Another option would be for
UNISPICE to contract extension agents to provide
technical assistance.
• It is risky to establish green bean crops below
an altitude of 600 m above sea level. Yields
decline drastically and the possibility of insect
(whitefly) attack increases. In areas with increasing
temperatures, the amount of product rejected due
to dehydration also increases.
• Compared with common bean, green beans
showed higher susceptibility to damping-off
in all planting seasons, stages of the crop, and
sites where the crop is grown. Timely disease
management practices are needed to reduce the
risks of crop damage such as application of lime 10
days before planting, application of Trichoderma
every 3 days starting at planting, and
crop rotation.
• The fertilization plan that producers are currently
using comes from Guatemala, where soil and
climate conditions are very different from those of
Nicaragua. Therefore, there is an urgent need not
only to perform soil analyses but also to determine
the crop’s nutrient requirements in Nicaragua
to improve the efficiency of soil and fertilizer
management as well as to increase yield.
• Protected agriculture is a good alternative at sites
with high whitefly incidence. Trials carried out in
these areas showed that the use of micro-tunnels
14
 decreased the incidence of bean golden mosaic
disease and, as a result, better-quality products
were obtained.
• PROGRESA promotes GAPs in the different
crops under its mandate. In the case of green
beans, from the beginning of this initiative, it was
determined that any agrochemical used had to
be of low environmental impact and harmless to
human health. Growing green beans has therefore
served as an agent of change in the use of GAPs.
Alternative products are now being applied and
are also being used in crops such as tomato, bell
peppers, cabbage, and lettuce.
15
• Because we are dealing with a fresh product, it
is necessary to schedule harvests to avoid over-
ripeness and ensure compliance with the planting
schedule as well as the delivery of harvested
produce to UNISPICE.
• Participating producers have been given seed
of excellent quality, with a germination rate of
approximately 90%. One lot of imported seed (120
pounds) of variety Claudine, however, presented a
problem of low vigor. So, there is always a risk that
seed companies will sell old seed in stock and, as
time passes, germination ability decreases.
Pedro Gómez, green bean producer of
the community of Sasle, located in the
municipality of Jinotega.
The story behind the numbers
REFERENCE
Pedroza, H. 2007. Enfoque Integrado de Investigación y Extensión en Sistemas Agropecuarios (IESA). Managua,
Nicaragua: Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) e Instituto Nicaragüense
de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA).

Production and export of green beans 16

17 The story behind the numbers