Dutch Expertise on Rwandan Farmlands

13-01-2025

Gertjan van Dueren den Hollander applies his experience as a Dutch arable farmer to support farmers in Rwanda in improving potato cultivation. Through practical recommendations, such as crop rotation and soil improvement, he helps farmers increase their yields and makes agriculture more sustainable. However, the challenges in Rwanda are significant, particularly due to the lack of land ownership and fertiliser availability.

Having visited Rwanda eight times, Van Dueren den Hollander works closely with local Agriterra advisors and farmers. “Agriterra supports several cooperatives in Rwanda as clients. This time, we visited seven of them,” he explains. His approach is hands-on: “I prefer being in the field myself, explaining and demonstrating what works and what doesn’t.” During his most recent visit, a key focus was tackling nematodes, a major issue caused by intensive potato farming. Crop rotation is essential in this regard, but the way land use is organised in Rwanda often discourages long-term investment by farmers. “Many farmers lease their land and don’t know if they’ll still have it next year. As a result, they do little to improve soil quality, even though crop rotation is crucial for soil health. We see the same principle here in the Netherlands.”

According to Van Dueren den Hollander, the challenges farmers face in potato cultivation are often similar worldwide, but each situation requires tailored solutions. “In the Netherlands, we deal with issues surrounding manure and artificial fertiliser. Rwanda faces similar challenges. There’s limited access to fertiliser due to strict government regulations, and there’s also a significant lack of organic manure because there’s very little livestock.” Moreover, there’s a shortage of seed potatoes in both countries. “On top of that, the reliability of seed potatoes in Rwanda is extremely low. There’s no organisation ensuring proper quality control. These are problems we’re working to address. Advocacy efforts with the government are underway, but such changes take time.”

Improvements

Despite the challenges, noticeable improvements are evident. Van Dueren den Hollander shares: “During my first visit, I didn’t know where to start. There was so much to address. But over the years, the fields have improved and yields of 30 tons per hectare are now achievable.”

Much of this success stems from simple adjustments, such as planting in straight rows and carefully sorting seed potatoes. These methods prove not only effective, but also have a ripple effect: neighbouring farmers adopt the techniques after seeing the positive results.

Conclusion

Although many challenges remain, Van Dueren den Hollander is optimistic about the future of potato farming in Rwanda. “I believe potatoes will remain a crucial part of their diet. At the same time, I see opportunities for diversification, such as avocado cultivation for export or other crops like pumpkins. Introducing new potato varieties from the Netherlands could also make a significant impact, provided they are well-suited to Rwanda’s climate and soil conditions.” He emphasises the importance of continued knowledge exchange: “There are always new developments. For instance, their mechanisation is still minimal. While we’ve achieved a lot, improving agriculture is a continuous process.”

He values long-term partnerships, as they allow for real impact. “The first few years are needed to fully understand the people, organisations, and systems in a country. Things work differently than in the Netherlands, which is why I advocate for organisations to commit to projects for extended periods.”

In addition to the technical aspects of his work, he also appreciates the personal connections. “The social cohesion in Rwanda is inspiring. People greet and help one another. The society is less individualistic, which I find very appealing.”

 


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