By Robyn Joubert
An online soil information tool has been launched to offer farmers in Rwanda accurate information on their soil, enabling them to optimise fertiliser use for their land. The recommendations should improve soil health and boost yields of priority crops such as potatoes, rice, maize, wheat, beans and cassava.
The Rwanda Soil Information System (RwaSIS) was created by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board with support from the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative and BKTecHouse.
It can be found at https://rwasis.rab.gov.rw/#home
Key features include:
- Site-specific fertiliser recommendations tailored to each of Rwanda’s agroecological zones.
- A user-friendly interface to allow easy access to fertiliser recommendations, with seamless synchronisation from the RwaSIS portal.
- A dedicated system to enable smallholder farmers to access key information on soil health and crop management directly from their mobile phones through the Rwanda Smart Nkunganire system (https://smartnkunganire.rw/).
- Tailored guidance on priority crops, including potato, rice, maize, wheat, cassava and beans.
The RwaSIS platform can be accessed by farmers, policymakers and investors. It is an important step in Rwanda’s efforts to build a more resilient, productive and sustainable agriculture sector that can meet the population’s growing demands.
“By providing farmers with reliable soil data and tailored fertiliser recommendations, we paved the way for more efficient and sustainable farming practices, boosting productivity and contributing to the country’s food security goals,” said Dr Bester Mudereri, Data Science Agronomist at International Potato Center.
