Rwanda’s PASTTA II Project: Boosting Potato Seed Technology for Sustainable Agriculture

The International Potato Center (CIP), in collaboration with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resource Board (RAB) and Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), on November 27, 2024, held a closeout meeting for the Partnership for Seed Technology Transfer in Africa (PASTTA II) project at Kigali. PASTTA II is a two-year (October 2022–December 2024) project funded by USAID and implemented by CIP (CIP component) and Syngenta Foundation East Africa (SFEA component), aimed at enhancing the uptake of improved potato varieties through quality seed potato production and delivery mechanisms in Rwanda.

The closeout meeting aimed to evaluate the project’s performance, celebrate achievements, and share lessons learned, along with recommendations for extending project activities beyond the PASTTA 2 project cycle.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Florence UWAMAHORO, Deputy Director General in charge of Agriculture Development at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB), reflected on the transformative achievements of the PASSTA II project. Highlighting the project’s advancements in seed technology, she emphasized its impact on enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, and sustainable practices in Rwanda. Key milestones include capacity building, training seed inspectors, and fostering collaboration across institutions, farmers, and stakeholders.

She said, “From the outset, this project was driven by a clear vision to enhance agricultural productivity and food security through the transfer of these innovative seed technologies. With the tireless efforts of our partners, stakeholders, and local communities, we have successfully achieved several milestones that will have a lasting impact on the livelihoods of the farmers.”

She added, “Through this partnership, we have made significant strides in building local capacity, training seed inspectors, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices that will help ensure food security for future generations.”

Dr. Uwamahoro highlighted the challenges of maintaining a long-lasting seed value chain for potatoes, which can be broken over generations. This project has advanced technologies to speed up seed production and shared best practices to prevent generational breakage, demonstrating the potential for even better outcomes in the future.

She explained the seed generation process, from plantlets to certified seeds, emphasizing the importance of addressing early-generation seed challenges to ensure quality and quantity.

Key efforts include capacity building for seed multipliers, timely inspections, and enhanced laboratory capabilities—developed with partners like the International Potato Center—for detecting pests and diseases, including nematodes and viruses. Dr. Uwamahoro underscored the significance of crop rotation in combating pests like bacterial wilt and parasitic nematodes, as well as the need to enforce good agricultural practices.

Challenges such as transport costs, reduced farmland, and adherence to sustainable practices affect potato production and prices. However, ongoing initiatives aim to increase production while promoting sustainable practices to ensure the long-term viability of Rwanda’s potato sector.

As the project closes, Dr. Uwamahoro called for continued innovation and dedication to strengthening Rwanda’s potato seed value chain, ensuring quality seed production, and positioning the country as a leader in potato farming in Africa.

Dr. Dinah Borus, the CIP’s Country representative in Rwanda, and Scientist/PASTTA II project leader, underscored the significance of seed potato production in Rwanda, as one of the leading potato producers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Potato is both a critical food and cash crop in Rwanda, making high-quality seed production essential for improving agricultural productivity.

She explained that seed quality is a fundamental factor driving the success of other agricultural inputs like fertilizers and good farming practices. She emphasized that without high-quality seeds, the benefits of these inputs are diminished.

“In Rwanda, we focus on seed potatoes. So why seed potatoes? It’s because potatoes are an important crop, a food crop, and a valuable cash crop here in Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the leading potato producers in Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and East Africa. So why did we look at the seed? We feel seed is the most important agricultural input that can drive our productivity. Seed matters a lot. Seed drives the other inputs,” Dr. Borus said.

She emphasized the importance of good seed quality and genetic gain in agricultural practices. New varieties developed through research can improve farmers’ access to genetically enhanced crops. However, releasing varieties without a good seed system can still miss opportunities, as farmers still benefit from the genetic gain inbred into the varieties.

“The importance of quality seed for farmers, as it allows them to obtain new varieties and strengthen the value chain of their crops. The potato, for instance, has a seed potato value chain, and a poor quality seed can negatively impact the entire chain, making it crucial to ensure the availability of high-quality seeds,” She added.

Moreover, Dr. Borus highlighted the introduction of innovative technologies to accelerate seed multiplication, such as fluted apical cutting and sand phonics, which offer environmentally friendly, faster alternatives to conventional methods. She recommended regular monitoring and management of seed production systems to ensure optimal conditions for plant health. The finalization of the seed potato regulations is another key priority, aiming to enhance the traceability and reliability of seed quality. She stressed the importance of continuous skill development and knowledge transfer to sustain the improvements made in Rwanda’s seed potato sector.

James MUSHAYIJA, Plant Variety Registrar at Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), stated that RICA, as the seed certification regulator and institution, registers seed multipliers and enforces laws related to seed certification. They provide requirements for seed producers, enforce laws, and provide training on seed certification and quality control.

He said, “Seed producers are typically trained on producing quality seeds and given technical skills to ensure they can produce high-quality seeds. Inspections are also provided throughout the entire production to testing process, ensuring high-quality end products that can be used or provided to other farmers.”

He emphasized the importance of the project, highlighting its achievements in developing technical regulations for seed certifications and providing training to RICA staff in testing the potato system nematode (PCN). The project also provided technical skills that strengthen seed certification at large.

Joseph GAFARANGA, one of the potato farmers who attended this meeting, identified several issues with the farming sector, including a scarcity of good seeds, poor quality organic fertilizer, low-quality soil, increased seed multiplication costs, and a lack of knowledge about good farming among farmers. These issues contribute to a lack of access to seeds and fertilizers, hindering the overall growth and productivity of small farmers.

He emphasized the need for sufficient and timely quality seeds, particularly from RAB, and recommended that potato farmers should produce more organic fertilizers and replace potatoes with other crops to reduce diseases that attack this crop.