An international partnership has launched the Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme to improve yields of cassava, maize and potatoes, benefiting over 500,000 farm households. The five-year initiative, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to develop pest- and disease-resistant varieties of these staple crops critical to food security in Rwanda.
Led by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), the collaboration includes the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, International Potato Center (CIP), Michigan State University, Bayer and CIMMYT.
RAB director general, Telesphore Ndabamenye, emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “By integrating research and extension services, we can equip farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to boost productivity and resilience.”
The program builds on efforts such as the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa project, which has been working since 2019 to combat cassava brown streak disease. Similar innovations are targeting potato late blight and drought-tolerant maize.
“Biotech potato varieties will be tested to ensure resistance to late blight disease,” said Dinah Borus, senior scientist at CIP. These advancements are expected to address food insecurity and reduce Rwanda’s reliance on maize imports.
For more about the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, visit rab.gov.rw/.
For more about AAFT, visit aatf-africa.org/.
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