A new international partnership is set to improve the lives of over 500,000 farming families in Rwanda. The Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme will focus on developing disease-resistant, high-yielding crops like cassava, maize, and potatoes.
The initiative is led by Rwanda’s Agriculture Board (RAB) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Global partners include the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the International Potato Center, Michigan State University, Bayer, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre.
The program aims to tackle the biggest challenges faced by farmers. These include pests like the fall armyworm and diseases like cassava brown streak and potato late blight, which destroy crops and reduce yields.
Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye from RAB emphasized that working together is key to success. “By combining research with support for farmers, we can help them grow more resilient crops,” he said.
One major part of the project is improving cassava. The Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa project has been working on developing a disease-resistant variety since 2019. Dr. Nigel Taylor from the Danforth Center said, “With this new partnership, we can reach thousands of farmers with better, disease-resistant cassava.”
Potato farmers in Rwanda also struggle with late blight, which can cut yields by more than half. Dr. Dinah Borus from the International Potato Center shared that they’ve found two potato varieties that are resistant to the disease. “We’ll test these varieties, and once approved, we can share them with farmers,” she said.
Rwanda’s maize production is low, leading to the importation of over $23 million worth of maize every year. Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, who leads maize development at AATF, explained that new drought-tolerant and insect-resistant varieties are ready to be tested and introduced to farmers.
The Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for five years, beginning in 2024. The program hopes to improve food security and support farmers in growing more resilient crops for years to come.
