By I.Habarurema*, A.Musabyisoni, A.Hategekimana, G.Gumisiriza, M.A.Ingabire, M.Uwamahoro, A.Kayumba and G.Nshimyimana *Corresponding author: ihabarurema@yahoo.com

1. Wheat Variety Development Strategies in Rwanda
1 I. Habarurema, 1A. Musabyisoni, 1 A. Hategekimana, 1 G. Gumisiriza, 1 M. A. Ingabire,
1 M. Uwamahoro, 1 A. Kayumba and 1 G. Nshimyimana
1 Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Kigali, Rwanda
Northern Agriculture Zone Division (NAZD), P.O Box 73, Musanze, Rwanda
Background
Wheat (Triticum æstivum L.) is currently grown in three agro-ecological zones of
Rwanda, namely Congo-Nile Crest, Volcanic soils and Buberuka highlands, circled red,
blue and purple respectively (Fig.1) at altitudes above 1,900 masl. An estimated 40,000
ha have been planted to wheat in Rwanda during the current 2012B season. With grain
yield ranging from 3 to 3.5 tons/ha, the total wheat production is expected to shift from
72,250 tons obtained in season 2011B to 124,500 tons in 2012B. The major constraints
to wheat production in Rwanda include lack of appropriate varieties, pests and diseases,
low soil fertility and limited agricultural land due to high population pressure. Therefore, a
breeding program to improve productivity is regarded as a sustainable approach to
overcome these constraints.
Mission Fig. 1. Wheat growing areas of Rwanda
To develop and disseminate holistic technology packages to improve bread
wheat productivity and income of small-holder farm households in Rwanda. Introductions (CIMMYT, Regional & others)
Objectives Screening nurseries
• Evaluate and select promising wheat lines from CIMMYT & national wheat
Preliminary yield trials
programs introductions on-station and in farmers’ fields under Rwandan
conditions; Advanced yield trials & gluten testing
• Release and promote the best lines with good milling and baking qualities
for commercial production in Rwanda; Comparative yield trials & characterization
• Promote production and dissemination of improved wheat seed to farmers. Multilocation & farmer participatory evaluation
Current activities Variety release
1. Participatory variety selection: Wheat breeding activities are mainly Fig.4 Participatory breeding scheme followed by
Work done so far
based on selection among introduced materials from CIMMYT-Mexico & RAB wheat program
national wheat programs of Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, 2. Release and promotion of superior genotypes
Uganda and Australia. The germplasm from CIMMYT is in form of stabilized Demonstration plots for one promising line have
lines from nurseries that include HRWYT, HRWSN, ASWSN, HTWYT, been established in farmers’fields in different AEZ
IBWSN, SAWSN, ECAWIN and BWME2HR. for subsequent release by the end of the current
About 330 genotypes have been evaluated at different stages for yield, pest season 2012 B.
and disease tolerance and general adaptation at Rwerere, Kinigi and 3. Production and dissemination of improved
Nyamagabe Research Stations under environmental conditions conducive seed
for wheat production and pests and diseases development (Fig. 2). A Four varieties including EN161, KS Mwamba,
participatory evaluation of 13 lines selected from on-station has been EN48 and Musama are currently under
conducted in farmers' fields of Musanze, Burera, Rulindo and Nyamagabe commercial seed production. Both basic and
Districts during the seasons 2012 A and B (Fig. 3), to select superior line (s) foundation seeds have been produced on station
for release to farmers. The selection scheme followed by RAB wheat for subsequent dissemination to seed growers for
program is shown in Fig. 4. certified seed production. This activity is motivated
by the Crop Intensification Program (CIP).
Way forward
Initiating a crossing program using existing
materials to select higher yielding progeny resistant
to rusts and other diseases;
Using conventional and appropriate molecular
techniques to assess milling and baking quality
early in order to select and disseminate more
competitive and profitable bread wheat varieties.
For further information:
Fig. 2. Wheat evaluation at Rwerere Fig. 3. Participatory on-farm Innocent Habarurema
Station evaluation at Rusarabuye Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)-Kigali, Rwanda
Sector, Burera District P.O Box 73, Musanze, Rwanda
Phone: (+250)0784166177
E- mail: ihabarurema@yahoo.com