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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Irish potatoes are a highly nutritious crop and a staple food that provides energy. They play a key role in fighting malnutrition and stunting. However, many low-income families struggle to afford them because both potatoes and their seeds are expensive.
This challenge inspired Philomène Mukamusoni, a 50-year-old woman from Byimana Sector in Muhanga District, Southern Province, to take action. She decided to help reduce stunting by multiplying potato seeds, with the hope of making them more affordable on the market. This farming uses Sandponic Technology.
A former businesswoman turned farmer, Mukamusoni explains why she ventured into sand-based potato seed multiplication.
“Food security is essential because it allows our children to grow healthy and smart. They get this from the balanced diets we give them. If the price of potato seeds goes down, then the market price of potatoes will also decrease, making them more affordable for every family. Potatoes are part of almost every Rwandan’s daily meal.”
In Rwanda, 33% of children suffer from stunting. Reducing this figure is nearly impossible without improving access to food. Most affected children come from poor families that cannot afford nutritious meals, including potatoes, which remain costly.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more intensive efforts are required if the world is to achieve the global target of reducing the number of children with stunting to 89 million by 2030. With current progress, the 2030 target will be missed by 39.5 million children, with more than 80 percent of these ‘missed’ children living in Africa. Levels and trends in child malnutrition: UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates: key findings of the 2023 edition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to eliminate stunting globally by 2030. Currently, 39.5 million children are stunted worldwide, with over 80% of them in Africa.
How Irish Potatoes Can Help Fight Stunting
Mukamusoni and her team source potato seedlings from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB). These are lab-produced plantlets that farmers grow in controlled environments.
“I chose to multiply potato seeds using sand as an experiment. It also fits well with the Southern Province, where the soil is generally dry. Potatoes grown from sand-based seeds can adapt and thrive in such conditions,” she says.
She clarifies that sand farming is used only for seed multiplication. Once multiplied, farmers plant the seeds in regular soil.
“Potato seeds grown in sand produce dry, tasty potatoes. We use ordinary construction sand, sift it to remove dirt, put it in blocks, and then plant the seedlings. We also ensure proper irrigation to help them grow well.”
The Varieties They Multiply
Mukamusoni’s husband, Athanase Ndagijimana, oversees much of the seed multiplication process. He explains that they currently multiply five varieties: Kirundo, Ndamira, Kinigi, Gikungu, and Cyerekezo.
“We multiply the seeds starting from the first generation. Potato seeds go through four stages before being given to farmers who produce the potatoes we eat. Our role is to provide first-generation seeds to other multipliers who handle the next stages.”
Despite their efforts, supply remains lower than demand.
“Right now, we have planted 60,000 seedlings. Each produces about five potatoes, so we expect around 400,000 seed potatoes. We don’t sell them by the kilogram, but per potato—each at 150 Rwandan francs, a price set by RAB. However, customers often request up to two million seed potatoes, while I may only have 500,000 available. The supply is still too low, but if more people joined seed multiplication, prices would drop further.”
How Long Does It Take?
The five potato varieties take 90 days to mature, plus 15 extra days to dry properly before harvest.
“From planting to 90 days, they are ready. On the 91st day, we cut down the potato plants and leave the tubers underground for another 15 days to reduce moisture. This ensures we harvest dry, good-quality seeds.”
Can Anyone Multiply Potato Seeds?
Mukamusoni says she first learned about this opportunity in August 2024, through a RAB radio announcement about the CDAT project, which supports farmers and livestock keepers to boost productivity.
“They asked for project proposals. I submitted mine and was lucky it was selected. CDAT provided a 50% grant worth 70 million francs. My entire project, however, is valued at 203 million, since other costs were added to make it fully operational.”
The Challenges
Her main challenge is selling at low prices.
“We sell seeds cheaply, but if the government provided subsidies, it would help us sustain our work.”
Bonfils Mugambira, an access to finance specialist at RAB-SPIU and in charge of the matching grant at the CDAT project, explains how potato seed multiplication works, highlighting its importance in improving food security.
“In Rwanda, the multiplication of potato seeds follows a structured process to ensure high-quality seed production.”
The stages are:
1. Pre-basic Seed Production: Done in controlled environments (greenhouses or labs). Involves using tissue culture to produce disease-free plantlets (in vitro).
2. Basic Seed Production: Plantlets are transplanted in screen houses or isolated open fields. Produces small tubers called mini tubers.
3. Certified Seed Multiplication: Minitubers are grown in open fields under strict monitoring. Seeds are multiplied for 2–3 generations.
These are inspected and certified by Rwanda Inspectorate institutions (e.g., RICA or RAB).
4. Distribution to Farmers: Certified seeds are sold to farmers for commercial production. Helps improve yields and reduce disease spread.
Each stage is regulated to maintain seed quality and ensure resistance to common diseases like bacterial wilt and late blight.
Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation (CDA) Project, which is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board through its Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU).
