Rwanda Emerges as Regional Hub for Quality Seed Potato Production

Rwanda has firmly positioned itself as a regional leader in seed potato production, paving the way for a more structured, efficient, and high-quality potato value chain across the African Great Lakes Region. With over half a million smallholder farmers in the region depending on potato farming for their livelihoods, the country’s recent advancements offer new hope for transforming one of East Africa’s most critical food and cash crops.

Tackling the “Seed Leak” with Farmer-Driven Innovation

The complexity of the potato seed system—marked by multiple seasons of multiplication, widespread distribution, and informal trade—has long hindered productivity. Many farmers remain dependent on low-quality, informal seed potatoes, leaving them vulnerable to disease outbreaks and limited yields.

In response, two Rwandan farmers’ organizations—SPF Ikigega and EGSP—spearheaded initiatives to address the so-called “seed leak,” where quality seed potatoes failed to reach full multiplication potential. These FOs mobilized blended financing strategies, combining farmer investment, bank loans, impact capital, and targeted subsidies to build farmer-owned infrastructure. This includes Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest indoor minituber production facility, open-field multiplication centers, and climate-resilient storage and sprouting units.

Government Launches First National Seed Potato Catalogue

In a landmark achievement for agricultural transparency and productivity, Rwanda launched its first official seed potato catalogue in May 2025. This move follows a multi-stakeholder advocacy campaign led by the farmers’ organizations, in partnership with the International Potato Center (CIP), Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Rwanda Inspectorate Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), and Agriterra.

The catalogue provides farmers and seed multipliers with vital data on potato varieties, including tuber characteristics, maturity rates, market uses, yield potential, and resistance to diseases such as late blight, Potato Virus Y (PVY), and Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV). With this knowledge, farmers can make informed decisions and boost productivity while reducing risk.

Boosting Regional Trade and Integration

Rwanda is rapidly emerging as the seedbed of seed potato production in the African Great Lakes Region. High-quality Rwandan seed potatoes are already reaching the highlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi. However, due to regulatory challenges, these seed potatoes are often mislabelled as consumption potatoes to navigate cross-border trade barriers.

At the heart of the issue lies the lack of formal regional seed potato trade. Most countries in the region maintain independent and unaligned lists of approved potato varieties, creating a significant bottleneck for formal exchanges. Each nation insists on precise identification of imported varieties, which is not feasible without harmonized catalogues.

However, a pathway toward integration exists through COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) regulations. These stipulate that once a seed variety is officially approved in two member states, it becomes eligible for free circulation across all 21 COMESA countries. If even one or two more countries in the region follow Rwanda’s lead and develop comparable seed potato catalogues featuring shared varieties, the entire sector stands to benefit immensely.

Such alignment would not only improve transparency and trust in the quality of traded seeds but also unlock new market opportunities. It would enhance productivity, boost farmer incomes, and attract international seed potato companies to invest in the region. Demand for certified, traceable seeds would rise, creating a more resilient and commercially viable seed system.

With strong foundations laid by Rwanda—through farmer-led innovations, infrastructure investment, and policy advocacy—the region's potato sector is poised for a significant leap forward. A coordinated push for regional catalogue development and regulatory harmonization could usher in a new era of cross-border seed trade, leveraging economies of scale and transforming livelihoods across the Great Lakes.