Global food security continues to be a worldwide concern. Beans and pulses contribute to world food supplies and food intake significantly. The significance of agricultural research for crop improvement and enhanced utilization of dry beans and pulses is evident through the scale and diversity of programs (Siddiq and Uebersax 2012). Under CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research), there are a number of research centers focusing on dry beans and pulses; e.g., International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT, Cali, Columbia), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India); International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA, Alleppo, Syria); and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria). According to CGIAR (2011), “impressive gains have been made with improved common beans, developed with farmer participation through regional networks in East, Central and Southern Africa; e.g., 30–50% yield increase from 1995 to 2010. This improved bean production, while strengthening household food and nutrition security, also provides women with surplus grain to sell in local markets.