Kigali: The Government of Rwanda and the International Potato Center (CIP) are co-hosting the 11th triennial African Potato Association (APA). The conference will run from 25th to 29th August 2019 at the Kigali Marriott Hotel.
The conference is themed: “Leveraging the contribution of potato and sweet potato for sustainable nutritious food systems” and gatherers over 200 researchers, decision-makers and development partners from 20 African countries.
The APA will provide room for these researchers to present their latest findings, conduct panel discussions with stakeholders and strengthen public-private cooperation in the sector.
Welcoming participants to the African Potato Association conference, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said that the Government of Rwanda is honored to host this conference and stressed on the importance of potatoes.
“Allow me to thank the African Potato Association for its dedicated role in promoting potato and sweet potatoes businesses, research and providing opportunity to discuss ways and strategies to promote production and use of these commodities in Africa. In Rwanda, sweet potato is an important food security and nutrition crop contributing as source of family cash income. In caloric terms, sweet potatoes contribute to 21.6 % of the total national requirements.” Said Dr. Mukeshimana.
The Rwanda government has aggressively invested in postharvest facilities, with 101 fully functional potato collection centers in major potato producing areas and additional investments are being made in collaboration with the private sector and other partners to increase capacity.
APA participants will have the opportunity to tour the potato and sweet potato value chains in the country. The tour will give the opportunity to explore progress in the industry including mechanized agriculture.
For the potato value chain, participants will head north to RAB Musanze station, SOPYRWA for potato seed production and Hollanda FairFoods for potato processing.
For the sweet potato value chain, participants will visit Sina Gerald Urwibutso Enterprise for processing, and Koperative Terimbere Muhinzi Farmers’ group in Rulindo for vine multiplication and root production. Participants will also visit Rubona RAB station in the South and Bralirwa and Minimex Farm in the East for mechanized agriculture.
Rwanda is 3rd largest consumer of sweet potato in Africa. Rwanda is 6th largest potato producer in Africa. Rwanda has an annual potato consumption of 125 kg/ person (End)