**1. Introduction**

The mountainous region of Central Africa where the potato crop is cultivated at more than 1800 m altitude and covered by this chapter concerns four countries, namely Burundi, DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. **Figure 1** shows the mountainous zone suitable for potato crops in Central Africa.

In Burundi, potatoes are grown everywhere except in areas of low altitudes (Bujumbura and Rumonge) [1]. While in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the potato is grown mainly in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Potato is cultivated across Rwanda and growing in popularity. But the majority of the crop is produced in the northwestern region of the country in the districts of Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu [2]. The Main potato producing districts in Uganda

#### **Figure 1.**

*The mountainous area of Central Africa where potatoes are cultivated, comprising Burundi, Democratic republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda countries.*

are Bushenyi, Isingiro, Kabale, Kabarole, Kapchorwa, Kisoro, Kyenjojo, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Mubende, Nebbi and Sironko [3].

The potato is a staple food source for many people around the world, particularly in Central Africa, it is cultivated for the following reason: It is an important crop, ranked 4th after wheat, rice and corn; takes less time to mature; a source of income in high altitude regions in Africa; job offer; source of raw material if industrialized; takes less cooking time compared to cereals; competes well in nutritional value compared to cereals; has a higher yield per unit area and in a given time; crop assuring food security in many rural areas and can be used in rotation with cereals. The nutritional value of the potato is given in **Table 1** [4].

Despite its nutritional importance and the favourable climate for its production in the mountainous zone of Central Africa, potato productivity is still low (**Table 2**), notably for the following reasons: (1) Low soil fertility, (2) Seed degeneration and low potential of existing varieties, (3) Inadequate cultivation techniques, (4) Short rotations and no intensive crop system, (5) Crop attacks by diseases (mainly late blight, bacteria and viruses) and pests, (6) Shortage and poor seed quality, (7) post-harvest losses, (8) Non-structuring of the potato sector, (9) Insufficient technology transfer, and (10) Insufficient training and technical information [1–3].

*Production of Potato Quality Seeds in Mountainous Region of Central Africa DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107126*


#### **Table 1.**

*Potato chemical composition based on fresh weight.*

However, with good quality seed, and the use of fertilizers, the yield can reach more than 40 tons per hectare. Reason why it is important to focus more attention on good quality potato seed production and develop multiplication methods that could be applicable and affordable by potato seed multipliers.
