Irish potato seed multipliers in the Northern and Western provinces have devised ways to increase supply of quality seeds to boost crop production.

According to officials, farmers hope to address the problem through a recently formed Irish potato seed Fund Company based in Musanze District.

The company brings together members of farmers’ cooperatives, seed multipliers and other iactors.

The company capital is Rwf200 million, with 10,000 shares valued at Rwf20,000 each.

Over 3,000 farmers are expected to be involved in the project.

The initiative is expected to increase food production to satisfy the growing market demand.

It would help farmers access adequate quality seeds at the time of planting, and increase business linkages among potato seed value chain actors.

The farmers’ current seed demand is over 40 tonnes.

But 75 per cent of the seeds are distributed informally, according to Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) officials.

Through the company, famers have committed to build potato seed value chain, ensure availability of quality potato seeds in the zone, while also supporting other emerging entrepreneurs.

The objective is to improve the supply of potato seeds through decentralised trading, agreed upon by all the value chain actors based on the estimated demand of potato seeds, according to farmers.

Isaac Nzabarinda, the president of Irish potato seed cooperatives in the country, told The New Times that the company will help them improve the quality of seeds and work closely as farmers to modernise the sector.

"Lack of adequate quality seeds was one of the main challenges facing farmers. RAB could not provide the needed seeds and we (seed multipliers) were not able to multiply more,” said Nzabarinda.

"The new company will now help us work together to ensure seed multiplication. We used to work individually and the produce was not enough, we only had four green houses but we are now counting over twenty and we have modernised them. ”

Emmanuel Musengimana, a farmer in Nyabihu District, said once operational, seeds will be multiplied and easily distributed on time to farmers.

"We don’t have seeds provided by qualified multipliers but we often store part of our produce for the next season. Now that the new company is set to provide quality seeds, I am hopeful that the produce will increase significantly,” said Musengamana.

Jean Claude Izamuhaye, the RAB representative in the Northern Province, acknowledged that it has always been difficult for RAB to avail seeds to farmers.

He said RAB will avail plantlets which will be multiplied and distributed.

He explained that, currently, farmers get 25 per cent of seeds formally while 75 per cent is distributed through what is known as Best of Farmer Saved seeds.

"Grouping farmers under one company will help us work closely with members and support them to improve seeds supply chain. We will also be able to train them to get adequate quantity seeds,” he said.

‘‘The current production of Irish potatoes stands at between 25 and 29 tonnes per hectare but with improved seeds and use of new farming techniques, the produce could increase to 40 tonnes per hectare,’’ siad Izamuhaye.

Irish potatoes are mainly grown in four districts, namely, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Musanze and Burera.

The Northern Province Governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, has urged the new company to aim higher and work hard.

He said the government and its partners have committed to construct small processing factories to add value to the crop.

The company is owned mostly by farmers – the same farmers are among raw material suppliers and clients.

Farmers have benefited from the support by the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) in capacity building, seed production techniques, training in seed business entrepreneurship, and green houses building.