the current state and trends of wheat production in rwanda

Dr. Daphrose Gahakwa

Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)

Red: High Lands (1700 - 2300 M) Green : Mid Altit .(1400 – 1700M) Yellow : Low Land (1000 – 1400 M)

wheat is produced at 1,900-2,500masl

All wheat is produced by small scale

farmers

Wheat area is rapidly increasing

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Pro

ducti

on (t)

Year

Production (t)

Land covered (ha)

Policy Incentives (CIP) Land Consolidation

Use of improved varieties and other

agronomic practices

Land consolidation

Easier distribution of farm inputs

Easier provision of Extension services

Easier Crop Marketing

Total grain production about 160,000 MT

Not all goes to formal flour milling

About 30-40% consumed at home

About 15,000 MT imported annually

Attempts to increase supply-Interest of both Government and Private Sector

Options:

Increase land under wheat

Increase productivity/unit

area

Yellow rust Powdery mildew Stem rust

Chnootriba similis

Improve - Baking quality through breeding - Post harvest handling

More of what is locally produced is attractive

to millers

Hard Versus Soft Wheat

Hard Wheat = Winter wheat, planted in Autumn,

harvested in Summer (7-8 months, in Temperate areas)

Higher protein (Gluten content)

Rwanda only grows soft wheat

Imports small quantities of hard wheat for blending to

improve flour quality

- Increased productivity expanded to new areas;

- Develop higher yielding varieties with better baking

qualities

- Strengthen wheat research capacity

- Mobilize resources for wheat research

- Strengthen regional and international collaboration

- Improve post harvest handling

- develop climate smart varieties

- Acquire and test diverse germplasm

- Take advantage of EAAPP

- CIMMYT and Regional research institutions. These

institutions are the main source of quality wheat

germplasm

- Wheat research is exclusively supported by the

Government of Rwanda

Thank You for your kind attention

Amasegnalu-u