Musanze District

Musanze is a district in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Its capital city is Ruhengeri, Musanze is the fourth largest town in Rwanda and is quickly growing into a bustling metropolis. Musanze district is one of thirty districts in all of Rwanda and one of five districts in the Northern Province.[1]

Musanze District
District
Shown within Northern Province and Rwanda
CountryRwanda
ProvinceNorthern
CapitalMuhoza
Area
 • Total530 km2 (200 sq mi)
Population
 (2012 census)
 • Total398,986
 • Density750/km2 (1,900/sq mi)

Geography and tourism

Musanze is Rwanda's most mountainous district, containing the largest part of the Volcanoes National Park, and its head office at Kinigi. Five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga chain (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura) are within the district boundaries. It is also in this district that most of Rwanda's mountain gorillas are found, making it the most popular tourist destination in the country.

Sectors

Musanze district is divided into 15 sectors (imirenge): Busogo, Cyuve, Gacaca, Gashaki, Gataraga, Kimonyi, Kinigi, Muhoza, Muko, Musanze, Nkotsi, Nyange, Remera, Rwaza and Shingiro. But Musanze district is not entirely covering the whole area of former Ruhengeri province. 68 cells, and 432 umudugudus/villages, With a population of With a population of 398,986.

Irish Potatoes plantation
Potato plants

Irish potatoes are mainly grown in Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu districts and this program is expected to harmonize the Irish potato trading locally and turn it into export-oriented business[2]

It is the most important crops in Rwanda and is one of the government’s six priority crops falling under the Crop Intensification Program (CIP). Rwanda is the 6th largest producer of potatoes in the region, which is significant given the relative land size of the country. Rwanda increased its Irish potato production from 2,240,000 tons per year in 2013 to 6,000,000 tons per year in 2019. The country accomplished this by expanding the production area from 130,000 ha in 2010 to 200,000 ha, and by yield increases.[3]

Irish potatoes in the market

The key pillars of the government’s Irish potato strategy
  • Strengthening the national potato research program;
  • Large scale multiplication of quality potato seeds;
  • Organization of the seed market, advisory services to seed producers and potato farmers;
  • Development of post-harvest and value-adding activities for the Irish potato.

However, four districts (Listed above) in the north-west are responsible for over 60% of the production. There are two growing seasons: from the end of August to early February and from the end of February to early July. Although the Irish potato is a profitable crop, farmers do not invest in high quality seeds, either due to the lack of working capital or due to the lack of access to quality seeds.

The use of improved varieties increases profitability, but only if combined with improved agronomic practices (proper rotation, use of fertilizers and pesticides). The production of certified quality Irish potato seeds is very limited (2% of total planted seeds). The private sector is hardly involved due to the low effective demand from farmers, low availability of pre-basic and basic seeds for multiplication and restrictions on import of pre-basic and basic seeds for the private sector. Currently the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) is involved in production as well as in the quality control of seed potatoes. Most stakeholders agree that the new seed law should separate these two roles and aim for an active participation of the private sector in certified seed production.[4]

References
  1. "MUSANZE AT A GLANCE". The New Times | Rwanda. 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  2. "Irish potato new organisation and wholesale market launched". www.minicom.gov.rw. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  3. "Rwanda increased its Irish potato production". www.agriterra.org. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  4. "Rwanda increased its Irish potato production". www.agriterra.org. Retrieved 2020-10-12.

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