Editor,

My dream  was that Rwanda, through innovation and research, will have a competitive advantage over other nations on the African continent, in the fields of science and technology. I guess that this dream is coming true in ways that I never expected and at speeds that are simply phenomenal.

I was reading in this publication that researchers from the Rwanda Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR) have developed a new technique of multiplying coffee seedlings that resist diseases and yield higher than the traditional plants.

The technique entitled ‘Tissue Coffee Culture” involves the culture of coffee cells, tissues and organs. This kind of innovation isn’t only good for the coffee farmers in Rwanda who will benefit from better seedlings; Rwanda can patent that method and earn money from its innovation.

Lastly, this research will put Rwanda on the science ‘map’ and help attract more research funds to this country. I urge all the other universities and institutes to emulate ISAR.

Sam Rwego
Kimihurura