The Kinigi potato variety has been added to Rwanda’s pipeline of biotech crops for development, as researchers seek to address concerns that the once high-performing variety is losing its vigour.
Athanase Nduwumuremyi, Coordinator of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) Rwanda, told The New Times that Kinigi was selected because its productivity and resilience have been declining over time.
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"After being cultivated for more than 30 years, the variety is gradually losing its vigour. The Kinigi and Cyerekezo varieties will be improved, and the transformation process is already underway. This involves improving the existing varieties before confined trials,” he explained.
The Kinigi potato variety has maintained its leading position on the market.
The variety, which is widely cultivated across the country, is primarily threatened by late blight (Phytophthora infestans), considered the most devastating disease affecting this cultivar.
It causes significant yield losses ranging from 13 to 60 per cent, and up to 75 per cent without proper control measures.
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Although historically favoured for its yield and quality, the variety remains highly susceptible to the disease under Rwanda’s humid, high-altitude conditions.
"Under the BioCap Project, the Kinigi potato variety will be made resistant to disease and production will increase,” said Bellancile Uzayisenga, Plant and Microbial Biotechnology Programme Coordinator and Senior Principal Research Fellow at RAB.
Consumers prefer dry, starchy foods, and Kinigi fits that preference perfectly when cooked, while also offering higher yields than many other varieties.
It is highly suitable for making crisps and is widely used in hotels and throughout the value chain.
The variety takes about four months to mature and can be stored for long periods without rotting, largely due to its genetics.
Two biotech potato varieties known as Ndamira and Victoria were initially introduced.
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) conducted a harvesting exercise from February 3 to 6 to evaluate the performance of the two improved potato varieties, with a focus on yield potential and resistance to late blight disease.
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The exercise was carried out in Nyamagabe, Musanze District, Burera District, and Rubavu districts.
The improved varieties were developed through the Rwanda Agri-Biotech Programme, jointly implemented by RAB in partnership with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and other collaborators.
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Capacity building
According to Uzayisenga, research is currently focused on capacity building in the production of potatoes, cassava, and genetically edited bananas.
"For cassava biotechnology, we are collaborating with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Danforth Plant Science Center. For potato biotechnology, which will focus on potato transformation, we are collaborating with the International Potato Center.
"For banana biotechnology and gene editing, we are collaborating with IITA. In addition, for specialised biosafety training, we will collaborate with Michigan State University,” she said.
The researcher revealed that two Rwandan scientists are currently in Nairobi for a three-month training programme on potato transformation. "Once they return, we will operationalise these technologies at Rwanda’s Biotechnology Centre.”
"For banana gene editing, we also have two scientists in Nairobi undergoing a three-month training programme. The first focus of the project is the establishment of a Biotechnology Centre of Excellence. This centre will provide a platform for gene-editing technologies,” she added.
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Since construction is expected to begin soon, standards are already being developed to ensure that the centre meets regional and international competitiveness standards.