Assessing the Adaptability of Quinoa and Millet in Agroecological Zones of Rwanda

In 2015 we introduced quinoa for the first time in Rwanda and conducted the first quinoa variety trials, testing 20 different lines of quinoa to see which one would grow best in Rwanda's ecological zones. The first trials were conducted in Gashora, Bugesera, Eastern Province, and Ndera, Gasabo District, City of Kigali performed by our collaborator; Rogers Family Company, and Gardens for Health International.
In 2016, we expanded the quinoa variety trials in different parts of Rwanda and included the millet variety trials. A two-year study (2016 and 2017) was conducted in two different agroclimatic zones of Rwanda: the Eastern lowland region, Gahara Sector, Kirehe District, Eastern Province, and the highlands region, Muhoza Sector, Musanze District, Northern Province. 

Elevation from mean sea level and spatial variations of the mean annual rainfall of locations where quinoa and millet trials were conducted in Rwanda (marked by red and blue stars)

Red stars: Initial quinoa research plots 2015

Bleu stars: Quinoa & millet research plots in 2016 and 2017.

Source: Habiyaremye et al., 2022)

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This research was published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems on April 06, 2022.