Rwanda: Agricultural output shows positive growth despite decrease in potato production

Rwanda’s agricultural sector saw a 3.1% increase in production during the 2024 Season B (March-May) compared to the same period in 2023. While crops like cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas recorded growth, the production of potatoes dropped significantly by 13%.

According to a report by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), the agricultural sector experienced growth in various key crops in Season B of 2024.

Cassava production rose by 6% to reach 783,290 tons, rice by 4% to 72,834 tons, sweet potatoes by 8% to 666,814 tons, and bananas by 5% to 1,142,552 tons. Maize production grew slightly by 1% to 119,101 tons, while beans saw a 6% increase, although the area planted with beans reduced by 1%.

Unlike other crops, potato production faced a 13% decline due to reduced planting area and unfavorable weather conditions in major potato-growing regions.

The cultivated area for potatoes dropped from 48,210 hectares in Season B of 2023 to 41,836 hectares in 2024.
Consequently, potato yield fell from 326,677 tons in 2023 to 285,596 tons in 2024. However, productivity per hectare remained stable at 6.8 tons for small-scale farmers and 14.9 tons for large-scale farmers.

The report highlights that the overall agricultural growth was supported by increased fertilizer usage, with over 80.1% of farmers using organic fertilizers.

Additionally, the adoption of high-quality seeds by large-scale farmers (72.6%) and small-scale farmers (16.6%) significantly boosted maize and bean production.

Farmers’ use of pesticides also increased, with 30.2% of them using pest control measures in Season B of 2024. Furthermore, sustainable farming practices, like soil erosion prevention, saw high participation rates at 89.2%, while 12.1% of farmers adopted irrigation methods to enhance crop yield.

Overall, the NISR’s 3.1% growth figure for Season B reflects a steady progression in Rwanda’s agricultural sector.

The report also notes that Rwanda’s arable land stands at 1.35 million hectares, or 57% of the country’s total land area of 2.376 million hectares, indicating the importance of effective land management and sustainable practices in sustaining agricultural growth.