A Model for Sustainable and Innovative Potato Production in Rwanda
Located in Rwanda’s fertile lands, the Potato Service Training and Innovation Center (Potato STIC) is at the forefront of revolutionizing the potato seed industry. This initiative is a collaboration between educational institutions (UR-CAVM and IPRC Musanze) and the Seed Potato Fund Joint Venture (SPF-JV), aiming to transition the potato sector from subsistence farming to a commercially viable and competitive enterprise that boosts food security, nutrition, and income for all stakeholders in the value chain.
The Potato STIC was developed under the Nuffic NICHE SEAD project. Under the lead of MSM the potato STIC partners were further capacitated in the SEAD-West project. Currently, MSM in close collaboration with the Rwanda Polytechnic (RP) is implementing a Nuffic TMT+ project focusing on strengthening the potato STIC as well as the STIC’s on agri-tourism, poultry, horticulture and dairy. Within this project the focus is on strengthening the sustainability of the STICs, lifting them to dynamic platforms with also a research component and community outreach.
Transforming Rwanda’s Potato Industry
The Potato STIC upholds core values of sustainability, excellence, and innovation, underpinning a strategic plan that drives improvements in training, research, and business practices. The center focuses on elevating potato production techniques, developing varieties resistant to disease, and expanding access to high-quality seed potatoes. These efforts are designed to establish a robust, innovative potato seed industry that significantly enhances regional food security and economic prosperity.
Strategic goals at the Potato STIC include advancing educational and training programs, promoting cutting-edge research, and fostering effective business strategies and community engagement. The center aims to equip students and professionals with essential skills, innovate new potato products, and connect with markets both locally and regionally to stimulate economic growth. Additionally, by enhancing the safety and quality of potato products, the center contributes to improved health outcomes and greater regional food security.
Potato STIC’s alignment with national and international standards underscores its commitment to playing a key role in transforming Rwanda’s potato industry. By integrating educational, research, and business elements, the Potato STIC serves as a model for how specialized centers can drive substantial improvements across an industry, impacting the economy and community in lasting ways.
Orange Knowledge Programme
This project is part of the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) which is funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by Nuffic. For more information click here.
MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies
This institutional collaboration project is part of MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The department is an expert centre on local economic development in emerging and developing markets. We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture and health. For more information click here.
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