Rwanda assesses improved potato varieties for yield and disease resistance

RWANDA – The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board has completed a harvesting exercise to assess two improved potato varieties, Ndamira also known as Shangi, and Victoria, as the country works to raise output and cut losses from late blight disease.

RAB carried out the exercise from February 3 to 6, 2026 across several sites. These included Kitabi in Nyamagabe District in the Southern Province, Musanze District and Rwerere in Burera District in the Northern Province, and Tamira in Rubavu District in the Western Province.

Officials, development partners and farmers who took part in the exercise praised the varieties for their performance. Late blight remains one of the main threats to potato farming in Rwanda and often leads to heavy losses.

A RAB official said the results encourage farmers to adopt the new varieties. “We have seen good yields in different agro ecological zones, and the crops show strong tolerance to late blight. This gives farmers a reliable option,” the official said.

Farmers who joined the harvesting exercise also shared their views. One farmer from Musanze said, “We want seeds that can withstand disease and still give us good harvests. These varieties look promising.”

Backed by national biotech programme

The improved varieties come from the Rwanda Agri Biotech Programme. RAB co implements the five year programme with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation and other partners. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Gates Philanthropic Partners have funded the programme since October 2021.

The initiative focuses on key crops such as maize, potato and cassava, which play a central role in Rwanda’s food supply and farm incomes.

The assessment follows another recent step by the government to strengthen crop production. In January 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources published the updated National Plant Variety List for 2026.

The list covers 223 crop varieties across 12 commodities, including maize, rice, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, wheat, barley, sunflower, fodder crops, sorghum and soybeans.

Under national law, only listed varieties qualify for commercial production and certified seed sales. Officials say the move will improve seed quality, reduce fake products in the market and support higher yields as farmers respond to changing weather patterns.

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