Agriculture being the backbone of Kenya’s economy, the Kenya Kwanza government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) has identified and recognised potato as a strategic crop that can immensely contribute to Kenya’s economy as well as promoting food security.
The Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) prioritised 13 value chains, including potato, with the potential to raise smallholder farmer income and offer dietary diversity.
According to the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, while in Kenya it is second after maize and contributes about Sh 50 billion to the economy annually.
However, like most other crops farmed in Nyandarua County, potato farming has its own myriads of challenges that cut across from seed development to post-harvest losses.
During a recent launch of the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI) project by NPCK at Ol Kalau in Nyandarua County, which aims to enhance potato production in four potato-producing counties - Nyandarua, Nandi, Laikipia, and Meru - it emerged that though potato seconds maize, the productivity per unit area has remained low due to poor agronomic practices coupled with low access and use of poor quality seeds.
Participants from the four counties highlighted challenges that are commonly facing potato farmers, citing the unavailability of certified potato seeds as the main challenge, with only 5 percent of seed potatoes planted in Nyandarua and the other counties being certified while 95 percent is produced informally.
John Rutere from Meru County noted that certified potato seeds are rare and the few available are not only expensive but inaccessible; one has to travel from the county to the Agricultural Development Corporation’s (ADC) Molo farm in Nakuru County; hence, many farmers opt for recycling the ordinary low-producing seeds.
Denis Kasoo from Laikipia County noted the lack of relevant information on potato farming as another challenge, attributing it to the lack of extension services at the grassroots to advise farmers on best field practices.
Nyandarua County Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture, Samuel Gitaka, echoed the sentiment of his counterparts, adding that due to myriad problems facing potato production, it has led to low production, which he said in Nyandarua County has led to underutilisation of a 500-tonne’ cold storage facility at Oljoroorok.
According to the National Potato Strategy (2021-2025) from the Ministry of Agriculture, the potato industry tends to perform below its potential since production is predominantly rainfed and mostly grown in small pieces of land, making it a subsistence crop.
More so, there is poor adoption of production technologies and poor crop management coupled with inadequate supply and use of quality seed of preferred varieties, leading to current production of an average of 7-10 tonnes per hectare, which with proper management can be raised to 30-40 tonnes per hectare.
Despite this, according to NPCK Chief Executive Officer, Wachira Kaguongo, NPCK is committed to advancing the interests of the potato industry and supporting the inspirations of potato farmers, processors, traders, and other stakeholders.
Kaguongo emphasised the importance of putting in place necessary institutional, policy, and legal frameworks on potato production, capacity building for farmers, financial accessibility, fast tracking of potato value addition, and access to the ready market as ways of enhancing potato production not only in Nyandarua County but across the country.
The NPCK CEO retaliated that through the KSPI project, the focus will be on building a strong and efficient potato seed system that would enhance farmers’ access to high-quality seed of appropriate variety.
“KSPI also aims at improving the enabling environment and coordination in the potato subsector for inclusive agriculture transformation,” added the CEO.
AGRA Country Director, Mr. John Macharia, said the NPCK is targeting 150,000 farmers from the four counties, and their focus is on all aspects of potato production, from access to relevant information to seed production to field management, as well as financial and market accessibility, adding that they are closely working with the International Potato Centre (CIP), non-governmental organisations affiliated with potato production, and County governments as well as the National Government.
He further noted AGRA is partnering with NPCK to fast track the full implementation of potato regulation on 50 kg packaging, which is yet to be fully implemented.
The Director further noted that only 5 per cent of potato seeds available in Kenya are certified, adding that their aim is to improve the percentage to 29 per cent by the end of this year.