Rwanda’s root and tuber crops production could be improved following the launch of a new project by the government and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that seeks to increase the sector’s output and link farmers to markets. 

Root and tuber crops include cassava, yams and sweet potatoes.

The project is also aimed at mitigating climatic risks and quality challenges along the value chain, Prof Telesphore Ndabamenye, the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) deputy director general in charge of crop production and food security, said at the launch of the four-year project yesterday in Kigali.

Root and tuber crops are second in importance to cereals as a global source of dietary calories.Ndabamenye said the project will be implemented in four phases under the theme;

"Strengthening linkages between small actors and buyers in the roots and tubers sector in Africa”; and also looks to promote food security in Rwanda and in Africa, generally.

It will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the trade and industry and local government ministries, as well as financial institutions.

Ndabamenye said the project would focus on improving root and tuber output, promotion of value addition and market accessibility by farmers. A glut during the harvest season always leads to high postharvest losses, making value addition essential to ensure sustainable supply.

Similar projects are also being implemented in Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, and Uganda at a cost of 5 million euros.

Ndabamenye stressed the relevancy of the project in organising potato seed market and improving coordination of all actors along the value chain.

According to Kelly Siobhan, the FAO agribusiness officer, the project will improve the livelihood of small producers in the root and tuber crops industry in the selected African countries as it will link farmers and small traders with domestic and regional markets.

It will also help boost the value of intra-Africa exports in staples as ‘one of the largest single source of growth’ for the African agro-food sector, Siobhan noted.

"Urban food markets are set to quadruple, fuelled by population growth, rising incomes, growth of the middle-class and urbanisation. It is, therefore, important that African economies, including Rwanda, embrace agro-business models that will ensure sustainable produce supply,” Siobhan said.

She added that root and tuber crops like potatoes and cassava play a critical role in food security in Rwanda and on the continent generally, and called for joint efforts to enhance the sector’s productivity.

According to Chikelu Mba, the FAO agriculture officer, the roots and tubers sector is one of the key food sub-sectors in Africa.

"Roots and tubers account for 20 per cent of calories consumed in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Crops such as cassava, yam and potatoes are not only important for food security, but they also increase the income of farmers and small businesses, particularly those run by women,” Mba said.

Therefore, governments in Africa should promote commercialisation of staple crops in their national agricultural development strategies to support smallholder farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial farming, he added.

Rwanda’s agronomic strategy is currently examining ways of introducing new potato varieties, improve soil fertility and crop management. This project is, therefore, expected to support these efforts.

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