Gorilla bean harvest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – in pictures

A gorilla bean vendor at a market in Bukavu, South Kivu province. Pulses, a vital source of protein and other essential nutrients, are one of the most popular food groups in many parts of Africa. They are being used by HarvestPlus, a joint venture between the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Food Policy Research Institute, in its fight against global micronutrient malnutrition Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Gorilla beans have been bred by research scientists in DRC, neighbouring Rwanda, and by CIAT in Colombia Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

An infant’s health is monitored at a nutrition centre in Katana village, South Kivu. Malnutrition is widespread in DRC and more than 70% of children are anaemic (pdf) Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Iron-rich gorilla beans flourish in a field in South Kivu. The name comes from the beans' greater resistance to disease, drought, heat and heavy rain Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Harvesters in Mulungu, South Kivu, sweep a gorilla-bean trial site. The men collect mature sun-dried pods, which will then be sold to smallholder farmers to plant at home Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

A worker at a seed multiplication site in Kashusha, South Kivu, winnows the harvest to remove soil and debris Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Women remove contaminants including stray seeds from other varieties Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Sacks of gorilla beans at a storage facility in Bukavu, ready for distribution to markets in eastern DRC. For those smallholder farmers unable to afford the beans, HarvestPlus operates a payback scheme, where farmers are given 1kg of free seed in exchange for 1.5kg when they harvest months later. After setting aside enough to feed their families, farmers can plant or sell the surplus, which can sometimes be substantial Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

HarvestPlus hopes gorilla beans alone could eventually provide rural families with almost two-thirds of the recommended daily intake of iron. Lack of iron impairs mental development and learning capacity in children and adults, reducing their ability to work; severe anaemia can increase the risk of women developing complications during childbirth Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Gorilla beans served with boiled potatoes and plantains for mothers and toddlers at the Katana village nutrition centre Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT

Children eat a meal of gorilla beans. The pulses, which have proved popular in DRC, are being disseminated in Rwanda and Uganda. HarvestPlus expects that more than 8 million people in DRC and Rwanda will be growing and consuming the beans by 2018 Photograph: Neil Palmer for HarvestPlus/CIAT