Cassava farmers continue to harvest low yields despite their high potential largely due to lack of quality cassava cuttings (seeds) as well as hesitance to comply with recommended agricultural practices, agricultural researchers have said.
Dr. Athanase Nduwumuremyi, the Head of Cassava Research Unit at Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) said that cassava is grown on 200,000 hectares in Rwanda, on which about two billion cassava clean cuttings are planted.
Cassava is the second most grown crop after banana in terms of cultivated area and the fourth most consumed staple crop in Rwanda.
However, some over 700,000 families who grow this crop are still harvesting between eight tonnes and 14.5 tonnes per hectare below the average potential of over 30 tonnes per hectare having planted 10,000 cassava clean cuttings.
"The quality cassava cuttings (seeds) are not easily available to farmers and could be estimated at below 50 per cent accessibility. Cassava clean cuttings multipliers are still few. It is a skill intensive practice. There is a plan to increase the multipliers as well as continuously research on new cassava varieties that can increase production” he said.
The low yields are also caused by disease outbreak.
National production dropped from 3.3 million tonnes to 656,924 tonnes in 2013 and 900, 000 tonnes in 2014 due to spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease known as ‘ Kabore’ and it is still affecting some few farmers.
Locally bred varieties to double production
Nduwumuremyi said that imported cassava varieties and locally bred cassava varieties that were recently launched could double production.
"These varieties can produce up to 40 tonnes from the average of 14 tonnes of cassava per hectare,” he said.
He said that the six new improved varieties -that were bred in partnership with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-will also resist streak disease and cassava mosaic disease as well as drought.
"We are now capable of locally breeding the resistant cassava varieties. We are optimistic that we will have more varieties in the coming years. In the next two years, quality cassava cuttings will be available from seed multipliers to farmers,” he said.
Dr. Silver Tumwegamire, Cassava Breeder and seed systems expert at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) said the varieties were developed under CBSD Control project funded by IFAD and Cassava Agribusiness Seed Systems funded by Dutch government.
"The new improved cassava varieties are liked by farmers and tolerant to diseases that have in the recent past affected cassava production in Rwanda. Within one year or two years, they will reach farmers,” he said.
Marie Claire Dusabe, a farmer from Bugesera District told Doing Business that she grows cassava on four hectares where she harvests 35 tonnes and sells at between Rwf150 and Rwf200 per kilogramme.
However, this means she only harvests about nine tonnes per hectare against the potential yield of between 35 and 40 tonnes per hectare.
"I started from one hectare which helped me to buy more three hectares. I hope the production will double following the new disease resistant varieties,” she said.
"Farmers need enough cassava cuttings,” added Marie Mukagasana from Nyanza District who grows cassava on one hectare.
Onesme Nsengimana, a farmer from Bugesera District said after growing new improved varieties, he is currently harvesting over 30 tonnes of cassava per hectare.
Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said that Rwanda currently produces around three million tonnes of cassava on about 200,000 hectares as average production and this could increase to about eight million tonnes per year with improved varieties and appropriate use of fertilizers.
"There remains quick multiplication of cassava clean cuttings. We also need more investment in adding value to the cassava crop,” he said.