In an intensified effort to fight stunting, which has become a national concern, the African nation of Rwanda has introduced five new sweet potato varieties. Available figures from Integrated Household and Living Conditions Survey (EICV4-2015) in September 2015 indicated that 38% of Rwandan Children below five years were stunted. To deal with the matter, the government has set a target to cut down the stunting rate from the current 38% to 15% by 2024.
As part of contributing factors, new potato varieties with high concentration rate of beta-carotene – the component that turns into Vitamin A after digestion, were yesterday launched in Kayonza district, Eastern Province.
The total of five varieties unveiled in Kayonza includes Cecelia, Esther, Kyabafirika, new Kawogo and Otada that originate from Mozambique. Before unveiling the varieties, researchers at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) put them under an evaluation period of three years at Rubona research station in Huye district, Southern province.
Damien Shumbusha, head of National Sweetpotato Program at Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) said that “these new varieties have needed diet components to fight malnutrition better than local varieties. We have traced these varieties right from their countries of origin. Today we have started demonstration phase, but they will be integrated into communities after four months.”
According to Shumbusha, these new sweet potato varieties have the capacity to yield over 10 tons per hectare, compared to local varieties that yield less than nine tons.
