RWANDA – Scientists have proposed forecast modeling and disease resistant plants as effective solutions to ‘Late Blight Disease’ highly affecting Irish potato production in Rwanda and other countries.
The scientists, who gathered in Kigali for a global climate research conference, classified Blight as a critical potato disease that can lead to crop failures if effective control measures are not implemented promptly.
Statistically, losses in potato yield due to the disease can go as high as 80% in epidemic years.
A sustainable solution is therefore needed in Rwanda given the country produces about one million tons of Irish potatoes every year, making it the third most popular food crop produced in the country.
According to Matthias Trapp, a senior agriculture scientist, forecast modelling for Late Blight Disease can provide a more precise estimate of pesticides reducing the amount and application frequency.
“The occurrence and spreading of Late Blight Disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans is highly triggered by temperature and air humidity-based indices,” he explained.
The proposed model seeks to use weather stations, sensors, and mobile applications to forecast the disease and take appropriate measures to control its effects on Irish potatoes.
“I will collaborate, from 2023 to 2024, with the Government of Rwanda and other partners on a research project called ‘Weather and Pest Information System for Late Blight Disease by using different scalable technologies in selected areas of Rwanda’ which will improve the forecast of the disease,” said Matthias Trapp, a senior agriculture scientist.
Moreover, as the second approach, Rwanda aims to mobilize USD 24 million (approx. Rwf 29 billion) to develop climate-resilient potato crops by 2030.
This is based on the government’s 10-year Climate Action plan submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The disease is a major disruptor to the Rwandan potato sector because the northern volcanic region, where the disease is prevalent, accounts for more than 80% of national potato production.
Another technological advancement demonstrated by the sector is the innovative aeroponic systems that are used to grow potatoes in the country.
According to the FAO report, this technique is a soilless technology that prevents diseases and increases productivity as it enables farmers to control humidity, temperature, pH, and water conductivity inside a greenhouse.
“Apollinaire Karegeya one of the pioneers of the aeroponic system in Rwanda grows about 2,500 plantlets in his greenhouse, which produces potatoes in 2.5 months,” outlines the FAO report.
Currently, according to FAO, Rwanda is the 6th largest producer of potatoes in Africa.
The country has over 70,000 potato farmers grouped in 30 cooperatives that produce over 19,000 tons of potatoes monthly during the harvesting season.
Some of the common potato varieties grown in Rwanda include Kinigi, Kirundo, Mabondo, Cruza, and Sangema.
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