05/06/2018 | Rwanda

 

 

The ban on fruits, due to the listeriosis disease in South Africa, came in December 2017 and led to a sharp rise in prices. Long before that date, research proved the feasibility of local apple production.

 

 

 

Rwanda has been conducting adaptability testing of apples in different regions since 2011. The selected varieties are Anna and Golden Dorsett. These varieties grow between 1500 and 2000 m altitude and manage to start producing in 2-3 years.

 

 

 

Hundreds of seedlings were provided to farmers. The first harvests yielded only 10-15 kg per tree but the expected yield would be 40 to 50 kg. In the next fiscal year 2018-19 the Ministry of Agriculture plans to increase the number of seedlings from 5,000 to 20,000 to provide all Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) stations.