Over the years, the Drybean Producers’ Organisation (DPO) has conducted thorough research on emerging dry bean cultivars around the world.
The Drybean Producers Organisation has managed to breed promising new cultivars locally in cooperation with the Grain Crops Institute of the Agricultural Research Council at Potchefstroom, North West.
Dry bean seed of new cultivars, as well as a few cultivars obtained from other sources, are produced for a seed company Dry Bean Seed, in which the DPO has a 50% share. The seed is processed at the company’s processing and packaging plant at Zeekoegat, just north of Pretoria.
The seed produced for Dry Bean Seed is tested for certification purposes by a laboratory called Plantovita, in which the Drybean Producers' Organisation (DPO) has a shareholding. The laboratory is also situated on the same premises as the processing and packaging plant of Dry Bean Seed at Zeekoegat.
In addition, the Drybean Producers' Organisation provides a detailed pamphlet annually that reflects new cultivar recommendations based on research conducted by the DPO, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and its seed companies. A large number of co-operators are also involved in trials, such as the Department of Agriculture of KwaZulu-Natal, regional agricultural co-ops and agricultural companies.
The recommendations are based on the results of the National Dry Bean Cultivar Trials, and three seasons' data are used for long-term tables.