Rwanda could soon start using genetically modified maize, irish potatoes, and cassava crops as confined trials are underway.

Maize is severely affected by stem borer pests and fall armyworms, potatoes are affected by late blight disease during rainfall seasons, and cassava is affected by cassava brown streak disease (CBSD).

The research is also going on for banana crops since bananas are usually affected by fusarium wilt and banana bacterial wilt.

According to the Coordinator of Roots and Tubers Programme at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Athanase Nduwumuremyi, these crops are being genetically modified in order to improve traits such as disease and pest resistance, climate tolerance, and productivity.

These crops play a big role in ensuring food security for the population.

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Cassava

Cassava is being genetically modified primarily to combat the Brown Streak Disease locally known as Kabore. This disease significantly affects cassava production by diminishing yields and quality.

For instance, National cassava production dropped from from 3.3 million tonnes to 656,924 tonnes in 2013 and 900,000 tonnes in 2014 due to Kabore.

The genetic modifications aim to create strains of cassava that are resistant to this disease, ensuring a stable and increased yield.

The research and modification of cassava seeds have already begun as the disease-resistant varieties are in confined trials before being released to farmers.

According to RAB, about 200,000 hectares are used for cassava growing in Rwanda where cassava is one of the most important crops after bananas and sweet potatoes.

Irish potatoes

Irish Potatoes are being modified to address the issue of late blight disease that affects production.

According to the International Potato Centre (CIP), in East Africa, the disease can destroy as much as 60-100 per cent of the crop.

In Rwanda, the disease erodes 80 per cent of expected produce if a farmer has no financial capacity to afford required agro-chemicals, according to farmers.

The disease requires extensive and repeated application of chemicals for control to avoid such losses.

These chemicals not only increase production costs but also pose environmental risks by potentially harming beneficial insects like bees.

Confined trials for genetically modified potatoes will commence in the next season.

This involves developing strains that are resistant to late blight, thus reducing the need for chemical use.

This will likely improve overall productivity and minimize environmental impact.

The average productivity of potatoes is 10 tonnes per hectare which is low, compared to the yield potential of more than 30 tonnes.

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Maize (corn)

Maize is being genetically modified to be resistant to pests such as the maize stem borer and the fall armyworm.

These pests significantly reduce maize productivity, and current control methods often involve use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Genetically modified maize is expected to have better resistance to pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions.

This should result in higher productivity and more resilient maize crops.

In Rwanda, armyworm was first detected in February 2017 in the Mushishito wetland in Nyamagabe District, and was confirmed the following month by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources.

By the end of April 2017, the outbreak had been reported in all 30 districts of the country and had infested an estimated 17,521 hectares of maize out of 46,403 planted.

These pests attacked 91.7 per cent of the maize and sorghum planted in Nyamagabe District, and 100 per cent of the maize planted in Nyanza and Muhanga districts.

Bananas

The primary focus for genetically modifying bananas is to develop varieties that can resist diseases like fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt.

These diseases have a severe impact on banana crops, threatening their sustainability and productivity.

Research on banana seeds is ongoing, with efforts aimed at finding varieties that are resistant to these diseases, according to Nduwumuremyi.

Once successful, the genetically modified bananas should exhibit greater resistance to fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt, leading to improved productivity and stability in banana farming.

The banana sub-sector covers about 23 per cent of the entire cultivated land in Rwanda.

Australia recently approved the first genetically modified fruit of banana resistant to Panama disease, one of the most severe threats facing the banana industry worldwide.

"The genetically modified crops will increase agriculture production as the plants will cope with threats such as crop diseases, pests, and climate shocks that were hindering the production,” he said.

He also allayed fears that genetically modified crops have adverse effects on health.