Fertilizer Response and Profitability in Rwanda: A Synthesis of Findings from MINAGRI Studies Conducted by The Food Security Research Project (FSRP) and The FAO Soil Fertility Initiative

REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL RESOURCES, AND FORESTRYfood security, food policy, Rwanda, fertilizer, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Fertilizer Consumption in Rwanda: Past Trends, Future Potential, and Determinants

Paper prepared for the Policy Workshop on Fertilizer Use and Marketing, organized by MINAGRI and USAID, Rwanda, 22-23 February 20001.food security, food policy, Rwanda, fertilizer consumption, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Consommation des engrais au Rwanda: tendances passées, potentiel futur, et facteurs déterminants

Document préparé pour l’atelier sur l’utilisation et la commercialisation des engrais, organisé par le MINAGRI et l’USAID, Rwanda du 22 au 23 Février 2001food security, food policy, Rwanda, fertilizer consumption, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Musa germplasm diversity status across a wide range of agro-ecological zones in Rwanda

Objectives: This study assessed the on-farm Musa germplasm diversity across different agro-ecologies of Rwanda and the socio-economic utilization options and selection practices that create/maintain this diversity on-farm.Methodology and results: A Musa germplasm diagnostic survey was carried out in 2007 in five Rwandan districts on a transect from Lake Kivu (West) to Kirehe district (East) bordering Tanzania. Across all sites, 118 farms, each having at least 50 mats were sampled for determining Musa diversity. Forty three Musa cultivars were recorded across the five districts. Higher diversity was observed in the east declining westwards to the Lake Kivu region as reflected by the number of cultivars and their relative abundance. Nearly half of the recorded cultivars had a low diversity index (Gini-Simpson 1-D < 0.2) and therefore prone to genetic erosion. Cooking cultivars only dominate in the district of Kirehe, while beer cultivars dominate the banana production landscape in the other districts. Taste/flavor, bunch size and market demand were the most important criteria for banana cultivar selection and thus greatly influenced cultivar conservation and distribution on-farm. Diseases such as Fusarium wilt and Xanthomonas wilt greatly contributed to genetic erosion.Conclusion and application of results: Musa cultivar diversity in Rwanda is under threat. Ex-situ conservation of the menaced cultivars is of crucial importance. Beer cultivars dominated the landscape. Cultivar diversity on-farm was influenced by the prevailing altitude; taste/flavor, bunch size, and market demand of the cultivars; and their susceptibility to diseases especially Fusarium and Xanthomonas wilt. Banana breeding or adaptation strategies therefore should take into account the farmer preferred traits. In addition, strategies for managing these diseases are critical for preventing the genetic erosion of the affected cultivars.Keywords: cultivar evenness, cultivar richness, diversity index, genetic erosio

Musa germplasm diversity status across a wide range of agro-ecological zones in Rwanda

This study assessed the on-farm Musa germplasm diversity across different agro-ecologies of Rwanda and the socio-economic utilization options and selection practices that create/maintain this diversity on-farm. Methodology and results: A Musa germplasm diagnostic survey was carried out in 2007 in five Rwandan districts on a transect from Lake Kivu (West) to Kirehe district (East) bordering Tanzania. Across all sites, 118 farms, each having at least 50 mats were sampled for determining Musa diversity. Forty three Musa cultivars were recorded across the five districts. Higher diversity was observed in the east declining westwards to the Lake Kivu region as reflected by the number of cultivars and their relative abundance. Nearly half of the recorded cultivars had a low diversity index (Gini-Simpson 1-D < 0.2) and therefore prone to genetic erosion. Cooking cultivars only dominate in the district of Kirehe, while beer cultivars dominate the banana production landscape in the other districts. Taste/flavor, bunch size and market demand were the most important criteria for banana cultivar selection and thus greatly influenced cultivar conservation and distribution on-farm. Diseases such as Fusarium wilt and Xanthomonas wilt greatly contributed to genetic erosion. Conclusion and application of results: Musa cultivar diversity in Rwanda is under threat. Ex-situ conservation of the menaced cultivars is of crucial importance. Beer cultivars dominated the landscape. Cultivar diversity on-farm was influenced by the prevailing altitudes; taste/flavor, bunch size, and market demand of the cultivars; and their susceptibility to diseases especially Fusarium and Xanthomonas wilt. Banana breeding or adaptation strategies therefore should take into account the farmer preferred traits. In addition, strategies for managing these diseases are critical in the prevention of the genetic erosion of the affected cultivars

Blended teaching and learning methods in nursing and midwifery education: A scoping review of the literature

Background: Blended learning (BL) is defined as the combination of both traditional face-to-face learning and synchronous or asynchronous e-learning approaches. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the literature to obtain a broad understanding of the use of BLin nursing and midwifery education in general, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and in particular Rwanda.Methods: The literature published between 2010 and 2019 were reviewed from six electronic databases using keywords including blended learning, nursing education, midwifery education, higher education, SSA, and Rwanda. Arksey and O'Malley's framework was used in this review.Results: The initial search identified 1,283 records. Eleven articles were selected for this review after the application of predetermined inclusion criteria. Almost all reviewed articles indicated that the integration of BLmethods improved the quality of nursing and midwifery education in general, and in SSAcountries including Rwanda.Conclusions: Initial research in this area highlights that moving from traditional classroom-delivered programs to the BLapproach is feasible and can promote the quality of nursing and midwifery standards of education. This scoping review highlights a paucity of research on BL in nursing and midwifery education, particularly in SSAcountries. Keywords: Blended learning, nursing and midwifery education, SSA, Rwand

Fertilizer Response and Profitability in Rwanda: A Synthesis of Findings from MINAGRI Studies Conducted by The Food Security Research Project (FSRP) and The FAO Soil Fertility Initiative

The objectives of this paper are: to present in synthesis form key conclusions and recommendations of the FSRP/FAO-SFI studies on fertilizer profitability in Rwanda; and to incorporate information and comments obtained from participants in the December 15, 1999, MINAGRI Fertilizer Profitability Workshop conducted to present and validate the preliminary findings of the two studies

Réponse et rentabilité des engrais au Rwanda: Synthèse des Résultats des Etudes du MINAGRI menées par le Food Security Research Project (FSRP) et l'Initiative sur la Fertilité des Sols de la FAO

The objectives of this paper are: to present in synthesis form key conclusions and recommendations of the FSRP/FAO-SFI studies on fertilizer profitability in Rwanda; and to incorporate information and comments obtained from participants in the December 15, 1999, MINAGRI Fertilizer Profitability Workshop conducted to present and validate the preliminary findings of the two studies

Réponse et rentabilité des engrais au Rwanda: Synthèse des Résultats des Etudes du MINAGRI menées par le Food Security Research Project (FSRP) et l'Initiative sur la Fertilité des Sols de la FAO

The objectives of this paper are: to present in synthesis form key conclusions and recommendations of the FSRP/FAO-SFI studies on fertilizer profitability in Rwanda; and to incorporate information and comments obtained from participants in the December 15, 1999, MINAGRI Fertilizer Profitability Workshop conducted to present and validate the preliminary findings of the two studies.food security, food policy, Rwanda, fertilizer, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,