Rwandan growers are struggling with a shortage of seed potatoes

Growers in the northern and western provinces of Rwanda are still dealing with a shortage of seed potatoes. The Northern Volcanic Region accounts for more than 80% of the national potato crop and 60% of the crop is used directly for consumption in this region. This means that a supply shortage can lead to nutritional insecurity and price increases. A grower from Busasamana told The New Times that they were dealing with a seed potato shortage for several reasons. “In the previous season we were confronted with a disease called 'Sembeshyi', which devastated potato cultivation and therefore it was not possible to select good seed potatoes. This immediately caused a shortage of seed potatoes. Positive seed potato selection Positive seed potato selection is a simple practice to keep the quality of the seed potatoes high. By selecting healthy looking, vigorous mother plants, the growers obtain good poters for the cultivation of the following season. According to the growers, this was ...