By Michel Nkurunziza
Rwanda Agricultural Board has said that it is working with agricultural experts to introduce affordable technologies that could help store potatoes for over a period of six months in a bid to fight against food insecurity and low prices affecting farmers.
Rwanda produces 916,000 tonnes of Irish potatoes every year, making the crop the third most stable for the country.
Potatoes cover 3.9 per cent of the total cultivated area.
Statistics from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda indicate that the per capita consumption for potatoes is 125 kilogrammes.
The Northern volcanic region accounts for more than 80 per cent of national potato production.
In this region, potato is the staple food with more than 60 per cent of the production being used directly for home consumption
However, potato farmers often sell their potato produce at giveaway prices during harvest seasons as there are no techniques to store them for long periods to be used or sold later when prices are friendly.
Lack of storage techniques also prevents them from reserving for food security in the future…
