Dry bean researcher in finals Droëboonnavorser in pylvak

Dry bean researcher in finals
Dr Andries Liebenberg, dry bean specialist at ARC-Grain Crops Institute (ARC-GCI)
was nominated by Agricultural Writers SA (North) as one of the finalists for
“Agriculturalist of the Year”.
Dr Liebenberg was born in Porterville in the Western Cape, where he also
matriculated. He obtained a B Sc and senior Educational Diploma at the University of
Stellenbosch, M Sc at the University of the Orange Free State and his Ph D at the
University of Natal.
Since his involvement in dry bean research in 1977, he released 14 different
cultivars, of which 10 red speckled sugar beans, 1 small white canning bean, 1
yellow haricot bean, 1 carioca bean and 1 large white kidney bean cultivar.
For 30 years now dr Liebenberg coordinates the National Dry Bean Cultivar Trials. A
Pamphlet containing cultivar recommendations is released to the dry bean industry
annually, according to which producers can plan orders for seed and also seed
companies can plan seed productions according to the best performing cultivars.
He was responsible for the production of the first disease free breeder seed of the
available dry bean cultivars, which led to the implementing of the Disease Free
Certified Seed Scheme, which is currently the corner stone of the dry bean seed
industry.
Dr Liebenberg also carried out extensive trials on spacing, planting date, and
nitrogen fertilisation of dry beans. This information forms the base of the Dry Bean
Production Manual, of which he was the compiler and editor.
He was instrumental in the establishing of the dry bean disease resistance-breeding
programme, which led to two Ph D’s – for dr Merion Liebenberg (fungal diseases)
and Deidré Fourie (bacterial diseases)
Dr Liebenberg is a familiar speaker at farmer’s days and information days, while
popular articles are published regularly in agricultural magazines.
For 21 years he is involved in bean research in southern Africa, first through
SARCCUS and later via SADC and he also served on the managerial committees of
both organisations. Dr Liebenberg also has close contact and cooperation with CIAT,
the international centre for bean research in Columbia and Africa.
Droëboonnavorser in pylvak
Dr Andries Liebenberg, droëboonspesialis van die LNR-Instituut vir Graangewasse
(LNR-IGG) op Potchefstroom, is pas deur die Landbouskrywers SA (Noord)
aangewys as een van die finaliste as Landboukundige van die Jaar.
Dr Andries Liebenberg is ‘n boorling van Porterville in die Wes Kaap, waar hy
gematrikuleer het. Hy behaal die B Sc-graad (1968) en ‘n Senior Onderwysdiploma
(1971) aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, die M Sc-graad (1976) aan die
Universiteit van die Oranje-Vrystaat en Ph D-graad in 1990 aan die Universiteit van
Natal.

Sedert dr Liebenberg se betrokkenheid by droëboonnavorsing in 1977, het hy 14
droëboonklultivars vrygestel, waarvan 10 rooi gespikkelde suikerboon-, 1 kleinwit
inmaak-, 1 geel haricot-, 1 carioca- en 1 grootwitnierboonkultivar.
Dr Liebenberg koördineer die Nasionale Droëboon Kultivarproewe reeds die
afgelope 30 jaar. ‘n Pamflet met kultivaraanbevelings word jaarliks aan die bedryf
beskikbaar gestel, waarvolgens produsente hul saadbestellings kan beplan en
saadfirmas beplan hulle saadproduksies volgens die beste presteerders.
Hy was verantwoordelik vir die produksie van die eerste siektevrye telersaad van die
beskikbare droëboonkultivars, wat aanleiding gegee het tot die implementering van
die Siektevrye Gesertifiseerde Saadskema in terme van die Plantverbeteringswet
(Wet 53 van 1976) - tans die hoeksteen vir die sukses van die bonesaadbedryf.
Dr Liebenberg het ook uitgebreide akkerboukundige proewe oor spasiëring,
plantdatum en stikstofbemesting op droëbone gedoen. Hierdie inligting vorm die
basis van die Droëbone Produksiehandleiding, waarvan hy die samesteller en
Redakteur was.
Hy was instrumenteel in die totstandkoming van die droëboon
siekteweerstandstelingsprogram, waaruit twee doktorsgrade vir drs Merion
Liebenberg (swamsiektes) en Deidré Fourie (bakteriese siektes) voortgevloei het.
Dr Liebenberg is ‘n bekende spreker tydens boeredae en inligtingsdae, terwyl
populêre artikels gereeld in bedryfs- en ander landboutydskrifte gepubliseer word.
Hy is reeds vir 21 jaar betrokke by bonenavorsing in Suider-Afrika, eers deur
SARCCUS en later deur SADC en dien op die bestuurskomitees van beide
organisasies. Hy het oor ‘n lang tydperk ook noue kontak met CIAT, die
internasionale sentrum vir bonenavorsing in Colombië en Afrika, gehandhaaf.
Dr Andries Liebenberg with the
trophy of Agriculturalist of the Year
for the Agricultural Writers SA (North)
Dr Andries Liebenberg met die trofee
as Landboukundige van die Jaar van
die Landbouskrywers SA (Noord)