NORTHERN PROVINCE BURERA — Farmers in the highland areas have been urged to adopt a new improved maize seeds resistant to Maize Brown Streak Virus-MBSV. The new improved maize quality with grain potential of 7500kg per hectare was demonstrated to farmers by officials of Institute des Science Agronomiques du Rwanda [ISAR] over the weekend in Rugarama sector. The new maize is intended to replace Tamila, maize type which has allegedly declined in value. According to M Claire Kanyange, director of High Land Agriculture Research, the new maize breed which has already been tried on their farms and proved to be more resistant to maize disease , has a short maturity period of five months instead of seven. Maize growers including the district Agronomist who turned up to learn facts about the new maize appealed for more seeds to be released by RADA, in order for the farmers to fully adopt it. It has previously been reported that planting of low quality seeds, lack of crop rotation and late spraying of crops has been the major cause of low production and poor quality products especially in the fertile high land areas where one type of crop is commonly grown every season. Farmers who were keen on the maturity period of the new crop and the colour of the maize grains said the crop would be good for maize flour because of its white colour, instead of yellow. Ends
