Sweet potato multipliers decreased from 95 to 47 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rwanda is seeking to increase sweet potato production from eight to 30 tonnes per hectare using six new varieties so as to replace wheat in baking and thus cut imports, Jean Ndirigwe, a sweet potato breeder at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board , said.
The data indicate that in 2019, Russia was Rwanda's top wheat import partner where more than 73,324 tonnes worth $17.5 million were imported, while in 2020, the United Kingdom came first with 67,145 tonnes of wheat for $16.1 million , followed by Russia with over 60,855 tonnes for $15.2 million . "The sweet potato multipliers decreased from 95 to 47 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The number should increase and also be given arable wetlands for multiplication," he said.
"There are over six varieties we want to scale up since they provide high productivity and are also resistant to diseases. We have to increase seed multipliers. Sweet potatoes are good raw materials needed in baking and they could help cut wheat imports. About 80 per cent of what is needed in baking can come from sweet potatoes," he said.
However, Jeanne d'Arc Uwemeyimana, a sweet potato farmer and seed multiplier, said that sweet potato vines are still expensive.
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