Rwanda’s Potato production Rises 5.7% as Production Reaches 332,000 Tonnes
Rwanda’s potato production increased by 5.7 percent during the 2026 Season B, reaching nearly 332,000 tonnes, as improved agricultural output continued to strengthen the supply of one of the country’s major food crops.
According to the latest Seasonal Agricultural Survey released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) on September 22, 2026, farmers harvested 331,963 tonnes of potatoes during Season B 2026, up from 314,093 tonnes recorded during the same season in 2025.
The increase was accompanied by an expansion in the land devoted to potato cultivation. The area under potatoes reached 48,424 hectares, representing a 5.4 percent increase compared with the corresponding season of 2025.
The highest potato production was recorded in Musanze, Burera, Nyabihu and Rubavu districts, highlighting the continued importance of Rwanda’s Northern and Western highlands in supplying the crop.
The rise in potato production forms part of a broader increase recorded across several major food crops during Season B 2026. NISR reported that production of bananas, beans, maize and rice also increased compared with the same season a year earlier.
Banana production reached 1,231,202 tonnes, up from 1,166,247 tonnes, representing a 5.6 percent increase. Banana cultivation covered approximately 250,772 hectares, with average productivity estimated at 12.4 tonnes per hectare.
Bean production increased by 1.3 percent, rising from 240,721 tonnes in Season B 2025 to 243,775 tonnes in 2026, despite a slight 0.4 percent decline in the cultivated area, which stood at 333,735 hectares.
Maize production also increased by 4 percent, reaching 122,370 tonnes, compared with 117,711 tonnes in the same season of 2025. The area planted with maize expanded by 2 percent to 94,823 hectares.
Rice recorded the largest percentage increase among the crops highlighted in the survey, with production rising by 10.1 percent to 80,325 tonnes, from 72,976 tonnes in the previous year. Rice productivity reached 4.6 tonnes per hectare, with cultivation covering about 17,534 hectares.
Overall, the agricultural survey shows that Rwanda continued to record growth in the production of several key food crops during Season B 2026. About 1.41 million hectares, equivalent to nearly 59 percent of the country’s total land area, were used for agricultural activities, with approximately 1.02 million hectares dedicated to seasonal crops.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
