Kenya and the Netherlands have enjoyed a decade-long partnership aimed at advancing the potato sector in Kenya. This collaboration has seen significant investment from both Kenyan and Dutch companies, not just in seed potatoes, but across the entire potato value chain. This includes storage solutions, mechanization, processing, and capacity building.
Beginnings and evolution
The cooperation began in 2012, focusing initially on improving the seed potato subsector when certified seed potatoes were scarce in Kenya. Today, investments and opportunities have expanded to seed supply, distribution, storage solutions, production, processing, and overall sector development. The Netherlands, as the world's largest seed potato exporter, brought its expertise to develop a vibrant seed potato sector in Kenya. The project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented through Wageningen University, involved Dutch companies and numerous Kenyan stakeholders.
Impact on potato varieties
A significant achievement was the increase in registered potato varieties in Kenya from 13 in 2013 to 64 in 2023, with 34 varieties from the Netherlands. These include varieties suited for chipping, crisping, table use, and multi-purpose functions. Notably, the availability of high-quality processing varieties like Markies, Destiny, Taurus, and Jelly has bolstered the processing industry in Kenya.
Source: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl