By JOHNSON KANAMUGIRE

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Lack of access to quality tree seedlings is a major concern for farmers in different parts of the country and it is increasingly dampening the prospects of good woodlot production.

Demand for tree seedlings has risen sharply in recent years due to the government’s drive to meet its ambitious forest cover target in a sector where more than 68 per cent of all forests are privately owned.

However, farmers told Rwanda Today that the lack of a framework to supply them with good quality tree seedlings has left demand being largely met informally by individuals, farmers’ co-operatives or private companies, who are unable to guarantee quality

Pests

In particular, farmers in the country’s biggest forest-producing districts of Southern Province complained that the situation was worsened by a wave of pest attacks on Eucalyptus plantations and had made production of tree seedlings impossible in the area.

Emmanuel Nshimyumukiza, a farmer in Southern Ruhango District, said it was still difficult to get tree seedlings that are adaptable to their ecological zone and which can resist the perennial pest diseases locally known as Inda z’inturusu.

He said some farmers had resorted to buying seedlings for timber and fruit trees from privately-owned nurseries in Kigali, Kamonyi and Kabgayi while others chose to foot the high cost for tree seedlings for germination at agro dealers despite quality concerns.

“Seedlings for avocado, passion fruits, Imisave (Markhamia lutea) and Grevillea robusta cost between Rwf2,000 to Rwf25,000 while other species go for as much as Rwf5,000.

How many farmers can afford this especially when you need more than 30 seedlings? Also, besides the cost, the genetic quality and survival rate of the seedlings is not guaranteed,” said Mr Nshimyumukiza, adding that the same applied to agro-forestry and ornamental tree species.

Farmers in Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru reported incidence of many tree seedlings bought from nurseries failing to adapt to their areas. They said that only a few large-scale tree growers could seek certified tree planting materials from the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) through their respective districts after specifying quantities, size of farm and planting season, among other things.

Charles Bucagu, deputy director-general in charge of agriculture told Rwanda Today that the challenges were a result of limited agricultural research and few seed testing stations, which has hampered efficient production and dissemination of tree seedlings.

He added that RAB would operationalize more than 13 research stations by next year in order to deliver high quality tree seedlings that are adaptable to the different agro-ecological zones and can be offered directly to farmers or distributed after multiplication.

Low productivity

“We plan to have each centre covering at least two districts. That way we can be sure that farmers won’t use tree seedlings that have not been subject to research,” said Dr Bucagu.

Studies have linked the country’s below average forest cover to poor tree seed quality. A 2015 National Forest Inventory shows the productivity stands at 50 cubic metres, a rate way below the global average of 300 cubic metres per hectare.

Damascene Mudenge, a farmer who is also involved in trade of wood products said that besides not giving average yields, locally-produced wood materials like timber still lagged behind those imported from regional countries in terms of quality.

However, officials argued that poor agrarian practices, overcutting trees, disease and ecological factors also affected the quality of trees.