Rwanda to debut late blight-resistant potato varieties Ndamira, Victoria in September
“We have tested the new potatoes; their colour and taste remain unchanged,” Nduwayezu said.
RWANDA – Rwanda is preparing to introduce two innovative potato varieties, Ndamira and Victoria, which have shown complete resistance to late blight in extensive field trials, offering farmers a breakthrough for sustainable, profitable farming.
The varieties are expected to be released to seed multipliers in September 2026, following the completion of field trials by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
Potato farmers in Musanze District currently rely on fungicide applications to manage late blight disease, particularly during the rainy season.
To begin with, the new varieties were developed through conventional breeding with wild potato relatives. The breeding programme focused on improving yields while reducing losses from late blight, which can cause 80% to 100% of the crop to be lost in unsprayed fields.
Additionally, Rwandan farmers currently grow 11 potato varieties. Trial results showed that Ndamira yielded up to 30 tons per hectare without fungicide applications, while Victoria reached 33 tons per hectare under the same conditions.
“We really need these improved potato varieties,” said Nzabarinda. “It is a breakthrough for us. Being able to plant and harvest potatoes without spraying fungicides would eliminate a major production cost and bring many benefits.”
Nathalie Mujawimana, an agronomist based in Gicumbi District, said, “It is a milestone in agricultural research and a game changer for potato farming. Reducing fungicide use benefits human health and helps protect the environment, since some pesticides can be harmful to people and animals.”
Anastase Nduwayezu, a potato pathology scientist at RAB, said the varieties have completed Phase Four, the final stage of development, and are ready for large-scale cultivation and consumption. “We have tested the new potatoes; their colour and taste remain unchanged,” Nduwayezu said.
Furthermore, Scientists reported that the varieties showed resistance to late blight and were not affected by potato viruses during the testing period. “The new varieties showed no symptoms of late blight,” he added.
RAB plans to distribute the new seed to a limited number of seed multipliers between September and October 2026. “We will initially provide the new seeds to a small number of farmers, but we expect to significantly increase availability by the end of 2027,” Nduwayezu noted.
Ultimately, by eliminating the need for pesticides, this breakthrough promises to improve public health and safeguard the local environment from chemical runoff while preserving the staple crop’s taste and quality.
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