Rice Varieties

Coryna spp RICE

1. INTRODUCTION

Rice was introduced in Rwanda in 1960's by various missionaries from South Korea, Taiwan and Popular Republic of China. Since then, rice has become one of the major food crops grown in Rwanda. Following the geographic conditions, rice is mostly grown in inland valley swamps referred to as marshlands. It has emerged as the most suitable crop for the marshlands and inland valleys in recent years. Several reasons justify this recent shift in cultivation habit. Soil erosion in the hills and the associated slopes as a result of intensive cultivation of traditional crops such as banana, cassava, beans and potato has diminished the sustainability of farming in the uplands. Rice is the only crop that thrives well and produces better yields than any other traditional crop, especially during the rainy season, thus rice provides a viable alternative for millions of resource-poor rural farm families in Rwanda.

2. DISSEMINATED VARIETIES.

Rice varieties are selected depending on the farmers' preference with regard to grain height, aroma, yield etc and the agro ecological zone in which it is grown.

In Rwanda, several rice varieties are grown. The table below highlights grown varieties and their descriptors.