The ministry of agriculture has continued its bid to invite the private sector to come on board and provide variety of quality seeds that are suitable for Rwandan terrain and cutting costs of farmers importing seeds.
The Ministry says that it would like to continue working diligently with seed providers, and attract the private sector to involve them in the Rwanda seed industry.
Availability of seeds remain a difficult for farmers to afford due to a number of high costs, including transport, and thus is important for competition between a number of seed companies to provide affordable commodity prices.
On January 18th, 2013, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Agnes Kalibata met Pannar Seed Company to discuss what seed varieties can be used in Rwanda.
Pannar Seed Company commenced operation in Rwanda through Murphy Chemicals in 2011, and provides white hybrid maize seeds and sunflower hybrids to the country. Pannar first supplied 1,500 metric tons of High Altitude White Hybrid Maize in 2011, and again in 2012.
Pannar also offers other varieties of the white hybrid maize, including early to medium maturities, and mid to high altitudes.
According to Minister Kalibata, it is imperative that Pannar conduct further performance trials in different areas of Rwanda, to determine the best and most suitable varieties are according for various plot areas and conditions.
It is well known that Rwanda has a wide array of conditions spanning across country. Its hilly landscape can lend to numerous altitude levels across a short span of area, as well as varying levels of acidity and humidity throughout the country. This makes it difficult to choose just one variety of crop seeds, and research crucial to the process of disseminating seeds for planting.
So far, through trials, Pannar has generated 5-8 tons per hectare with four different varieties on the Kirehe Site.
Pannar will continue to execute performance trials and test varieties under various conditions before choosing ideal varieties suitable for Rwanda. Pannar hopes to enter the seed industry and become a key leader in the country.
