Narman Sugar Bean

Narman sugar bean is a variety of dry bean cultivated in the Narman district of Erzurum province, Türkiye, characterized by its local population traits. Registered as a designation of origin on July 20, 2020, by the Eastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute under Industrial Property Law No. 6769, the application for its registration was submitted on October 8, 2018.

Definition and Distinctive Features

Narman sugar bean is obtained from green, climbing plants with a height ranging from 90 to 170 cm. It is a late-maturing variety with an extended vegetation period due to significant day-night temperature differences. The cultivation period spans from May 10 to October 10.

The beans are round-oval in shape, white in color and classified as sugar-type beans. They are distinguished by their quick cooking time, unique sweet aroma, and high protein content. The pods turn red upon maturation, and at harvest maturity, they exhibit grayish-purple spots, setting this bean apart from others.

Physical Characteristics

• Plant Type: Green, climbing
• Plant Height: 90–170 cm
• First Pod Height: 13–30 cm
• Bean Shape: Round, oval
• Bean Yield: 150–200 kg/da
• 100-Bean Weight: 55.5–61.2 g
• Dry Weight: 55.6–60.6 g
• Wet Weight: 116.2–119.1 g
• Dry Volume: 143–147 ml
• Wet Volume: 254–256 ml

Production Method

• Soil Preparation: The field is plowed in the last week of October and left over winter. Freezing and thawing break up soil clods, aerating the soil. In May, when the soil is ready, a second plowing is done, and a seedbed is prepared using a rototiller. At this stage, aged manure is applied.
• Sowing: Seeds are sourced from plants grown in the previous season. Healthy seeds with high germination rates are selected. Sowing occurs between May 10 and 20. Broadcasting is common but machine sowing is also possible. For broadcasting, 15–20 kg/da of seeds are used; for machine sowing, 12–16 kg/da. In machine sowing, row spacing is 50–65 cm, intra-row spacing is 10–25 cm, and sowing depth is 3–5 cm.
• Fertilization: Soil analysis is conducted before sowing and fertilization is applied based on organic matter and nutrient requirements.
• Maintenance: Weeding and soil aeration are performed through hoeing. The first hoeing occurs when plants have 2–3 leaves, with second and third hoeings depending on weed density.
• Irrigation: The first irrigation is done between emergence and flowering. Flowering and pod-setting stages require the most water. Depending on climate conditions, 5–6 furrow irrigations are conducted throughout the season.
• Harvest: Harvesting occurs in September–October when plants and pods yellow and beans harden. Beans are hand-picked, spread out to dry, threshed using a tractor, sieved and manually sorted. Cleaned seeds are bagged and stored in a cool environment.

Inspection

Inspections are coordinated by the Eastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute, with a committee including representatives from the Institute and the Narman District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Two routine inspections are conducted annually: one during the sowing period (May–June) and one during the growing and harvest period (June–October). Additional inspections are carried out if complaints arise. Inspections verify compliance with the production method, physical characteristics and maturity indicators.

Usage

The “Narman Sugar Bean” designation and origin mark must appear on the product or its packaging. If not feasible on the packaging, the mark must be prominently displayed at the place of business.