Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are the most important relish (food) crop in the farming system of Serenje District in Central Province, Zambia. Both leaves and dried bean seeds are major sources of food for home consumption, and dried beans have a commercial value in the system. Increased yields of beans would therefore improve family nutrition as well as the economic returns to capital and labour invested in bean production. Using the farming systems research and extension approach, on-farm research was conducted from 1984/85 to 1987/88 to: 1) identify bean varieties and management components that would result in higher seed yields with relatively less variation and2) examine the economic feasibility and assess the rate of adoption of a bean variety and/or management strategies within the farming system of Serenje District of Central Province, Zambia. A 3 x 2 factorial trial was used with two bean varieties, fertiliser levels, and seed treatments. This study, conducted in Traditional Recommendation Domain No.2 ofSerenje District, consisted of two years of on-farm trials managed and implemented by researchers and two years of on-farm test demonstrations managed by extension and implemented by farmers. Results from the agronomic and economic analyses showed that the Brazilian bean variety, 'Carioca', was superior in seed yield, net economic returns, and variability to the loeal variety tested with and without fertiliser and/or seed treatment. Carioca, when used in combination with fertiliser and insecticide, was the best alternative for traditional and small-scale farmers, who are usually highly averse to risk. This finding indicates high potential for adoption of Carioca in Serenje. The adoption potential of Carioca was confirmed by the farmers' own evaluation.

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