Biotech Updates

New Bill to Protect Dev't of Crop Varieties in Rwanda

April 1, 2015

A bill was drafted by the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) supporting the development of new crop varieties in the country. According to Gervais Nkuriza Ngerero, Director General of RAB seed department, the bill is expected to protect plant varieties developed by Rwandan researchers. "Rwanda has developed iron rich bean varieties that it exports to several countries, including Kenya. If we have copyright law, nobody can claim it is their discovery. Even other countries will supply us varieties, knowing there is a plant variety protection law," Ngerero said.

Furthermore, Blaise Ruhima Mbaraga of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said that the bill will encourage researchers to develop better crop varieties leading to enhanced agricultural productivity and industry development.

For more details, read the original article from African Farming.