Quality seed potato for improved yields: A win for smallholder farmers

In Rwanda, access to quality seed for improved and market preferred varieties is a challenge. For a country which depends on agriculture for sustenance, this poses a great threat to food security and means of livelihoods. Low quality seeds lead to low yields or even crop failure. Quality seed leads to increased productivity by about 50% as it improves their ability to resist pests and diseases.  

Cognizant of this, the International Potato Centre (CIP) and Syngenta Foundation East Africa (SFEA) with a funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has implemented the Partnership for Seed Technology Transfer in Africa (PASTTA 2) project in Rwanda in collaboration with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA). The two-year project begun in October 2022 and will end in December 2024. The project aimed at enhancing production and uptake of quality seeds of robust varieties. Crop improvement is one of CIP science goals and focuses on developing and delivering superior crop varieties resilient to environmental stressors.

Musanze, the Food Basket of Rwanda 

Musanze district, located in northern Rwanda the capital city of Rwanda. Musanze is nicknamed the food basket of Rwanda and beyond due to favorable climate allowing agriculture to thrive. It is not only the climate which aids agriculture here, the region sits on black volcanic soils rich in nutrients and characterized by high water holding capacity. The source of the volcanic soils? The region is nestled between towering volcanic mountains forming a fence-like structure around Musanze as if to protect it from unknown threat.

Arriving in Musanze, you are greeted by cold, fresh air emanating from tall, green swinging trees yet farmers carry out their activities undisturbed. Theophile Ndacyayisenga, a potato breeder and scientist working at RAB, Musanze station is one of the leads in the project. He conducts research, training and trials with a sole purpose: to improve the quality of seed potato for smallholder farmers. 

“The support from CIP came at an opportune time. There is an urgent need to develop and deliver resilient and superior quality early generation seed potato to seed multipliers and ultimately to smallholder farmers.” Theophile Ndacyayisenga. 

Partnerships Gives Way to Adoption New Seed Technologies

The collaboration between CIP and RAB, RICA entailed training on seed regeneration, capacity building on rapid multiplication technologies including aeroponics, rooted apical cuttings and sandponics seed system management, diseases diagnostic with emphasis on virus indexing, support to conduct feasibility study on availability of quality seeds in Rwanda and the existing gaps, nematode identification, and supporting National Performance trials to identify high yielding and climate resilient potato varieties.

Two years since the roll-out of the project, hope is on the horizon for smallholder farmers! Aeroponics technology – a rapid multiplication method in which potato plants’ root systems grow suspended in chambers filled with a nutrient-rich mist – was introduced in Rwanda more than 15 years ago through Three-Generation (3G) project, a CIP project also supported by USAID, but the production had gone low. Through the project, new aeroponics protocols were developed and applied, which resulted in a 52% increase in minituber production.

Moreover, PASTTA 2 project witnessed the application of new technology known as sandponics in Rwanda. Sandponics is way of growing where sterilized sand is used as to grow tubers. CIP worked with RAB and Seed Potato Fund (SPF) Ikigega, private sector partner, to enhance their capacity to produce and disseminate clean planting material for improved seed varieties.

“The new technologies are advantageous as compared to the conventional way. In sandponics, materials are irrigated in sterilized sand with a nutrient-rich solution. It is also cost effective as it uses sand sterilized with bleach, and the sand can be reused after harvesting.” Evariste Nsabimana, SPF Production Manager. 

Additionally, the conventional way involves sterilization of soil using firewood therefore destroying the environment by cutting down trees and polluting air. Importantly, seed multipliers say farmers prefer the seeds from the new technologies as they are not only bigger in size but also clean.

“New technologies align early generative seed potato production activities with the Government, National Environment and Climate Change Policy, which aims at a clean and healthy environment that is resilient to climate variability and change.” CIP-Rwanda Project Lead, Dr Dinah Borus.

What did the Project Achieve? 

At an event where partners and farmers marked the closure of the project, the achievements realized became apparent as different speakers took to the podium.

“We value and acknowledge partnership with CIP in this project. We are now able to diagnose and manage pests and diseases which was difficult before. Our other national institutions like RICA have been strengthened to ensure seed quality assurance mechanisms.” Said RAB Deputy Director Dr. Florence Uwamahoro.

While CIP-Rwanda Project Lead, Dr Dinah Borus underscored the importance of quality seed potato supplemented by other agricultural inputs like fertilizer in improving farmers yields.

“Overall, the PASTTA2 project has significantly enhanced production and accessibility of quality seed potato through technology transfer and information sharing. Equally, it has made remarkable progress in developing a robust seed potato regulatory framework for quality assurance, ensuring the seed standards and protocols are aligned with COMESA seed industry’s best practices and legal requirements.

PASTTA 2 project highlighted the importance of continuous skill development and knowledge transfer to sustain the improvements made in Rwanda’s seed potato sector.

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