Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has released five new varieties of irish potatoes that are high yielding and disease tolerant.
These verities, initially imported from Peru, were evaluated in different parts of the country since 2013 through clonal evaluation, preliminary yield trial, advanced yield trial and multi-location trials by RAB and International Potato Center (CIP) supported by USAID through Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG). There has been also a partnership with two potato factories, cooperatives, INES University, farmers and seed companies.
These varieties, scientifically codenamed CIP393077.159, CIP396018.241, CIP398190.615, CIP393280. 64, and CIP393371.58, have showed high yield potential, processing traits, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses such as later blight and bacterial wilt and adaptation to Rwanda climate conditions and are better than local potato varieties. They can provide up to 34, 34, 36, 34 and 40 tons/ha, respectively.
During the ceremony of releasing the varieties on January 25, 2019 in Musanze District, local farmers named them Izihirwe, Twihaze, Kazeneza, Nkunganire and Ndeze.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, commended the irish potato researchers and other partners who worked tirelessly to provide farmers with the new varieties.
“We believe that these new varieties will respond to some of the challenges we’ve been facing,” the minister said, noting that some of these varieties will enable the farmers to cope with climate change challenge since there is a variety that can give yields in a shorter time – only in two months. Other varieties can give up to 40tons/ha – thus ensuring higher productivity; while other varieties give production preferred by potato processing factories.
Irish potato is a major food and cash crop grown throughout Rwanda. Most of its production is concentrated in the high altitude region. This region includes the highlands of volcanic soils. Buberuka and the Congo/Nile Divide located in Southwest and North of the Country. The Region accounts for more than 80% of the National Potato production, while the rest of the potatoes are produced under marginal cultivations throughout the country. In this region, potato serves as a staple food and main source of income.
Most of potato varieties grown in Rwanda such as Cruza, Gikungu, Kinigi, Kirundo, Mabondo, Mizero, Nderera, Ngunda, Sangema and Victoria were developed for table consumption about 30 years ago.