II. Common Beans in the Americas

Common beans are grown in all countries in the Americas. However, there exists a great deal of diversity among these countries in terms of socioeconomic charactersitics. The basic socioeconomic charactresitics of countries in the Americas are summarized in Table 1.
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Market Classses of Common Beans by Country
Common beans are grouped into market classes (commercial classes), based on their physical characteristics including color, color pattern, and size. While most countries produce a limited number of market classes, a few countries produce 10 or more market classes. The Ámerica's most widely grown market classes (Table) include pinto, navy, black, dark red kidney, light red kidney, North American small red, Central American small red, Great Northern, Carioca, red mottled (Pompadour, Calima) , yellow, and alubia.

Growing Season by Country
In general, beans are grown during a single season in temperate climates (e.g., Canada, U.S.) and during up to three seasons in tropical climates (Table).

Distribution of Common Bean Area (ha) by Country
The Americas is the world's most important commmon bean-producing region, with an average of 6.568 million ha (Table) planted to common beans in 2000-2004. Six countries accounted for about 85% of the America's common bean area (Figure)--Brazil (39.0%, excluding the area in cowpeas), Mexico (27.9%), the U.S. (8.8%), Nicaragua (3.7%), Argentina (3.3%), and Canada (2.5%).

Distribution of Common Bean Production (mt) by Country
During 2000-2004, the Americas produced an avarage of 5.792 million mt (Table) of common beans. Six countries accounted for about 86% of the America's total production (Figure)--Brazil (32.9%, excluding cowpea production), Mexico (21.8%), the U.S. (18.2%), Canada (5.2%), Argentina (4.1%), and Nicaragua (4.6%).

Distribution of Common Bean Exports (mt) by Country
During 1999-2004, countries in the Americas exported an average of 976,153 mt (Table). The year-to-year variability in exports was small, as indicated by a CV of 6%. While almost all countries exported common beans, three countries (Figure) accounted for almost about 85% of the America's exports--the U.S. (33.6%), Canada (26.9%), and Argentina (24.3%. From 1999 to 2004, the U.S.'s export shares declined from 391,437 to 261,174 mt (-33%), Argentina's export share declined from 264,759 to 167,793 mt (-37%), while Canada's exports share increased from 213,543 to 313,817 (+ 47%) (Figure).

Distribution of Common Bean Imports (mt) by Country
During 1999-2000, countries in the Americas imported an average of 645,720 mt of common beans (Table). While the year-to-year variability in imports was realtively low (CV=11%), it was greater than the variability in exports. All countries in the Americas imported common beans. However, five countries accounted for about 74% of the region's imports-- the U.S. (17.4%), Mexico (15.9%), Cuba (15.4%), Brazil (14.6%, may include cowpeas), and Venezuela (10.5%) (Figure). However, during the period, imports by the leading importing countries varied greatly from year-to-year (Figure).

National Common Bean Research Programs
Almost all countries in the Americas carry out publically-funded research to relax constraints to increasing productivity and expanding market opportunities. In the U.S. and Canada, research on bean improvement is primarily conducted at land grant universities. In contrast, in other countries bean improvement research is conducted by national research centers (national bean research program contacts).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution of

Distribution of