In Kenya, the government's Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) has spotlighted the potato as a key crop for economic growth and food security. This is part of the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), which aims to enhance income for smallholder farmers through 13 selected value chains, including potatoes. The National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) positions potatoes as the second most crucial food crop after maize, contributing approximately Sh 50 billion annually to the national economy. Despite its significance, potato farming in Nyandarua County and other regions faces challenges ranging from seed development to post-harvest losses.
The Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI) project, recently launched by NPCK in Nyandarua County, seeks to uplift potato production in Nyandarua, Nandi, Laikipia, and Meru counties. The initiative addresses the low potato yields attributed to suboptimal farming practices and the use of poor-quality seeds. A critical issue highlighted during the KSPI launch is the scarcity of certified potato seeds, with a mere 5% of the seeds planted being certified. According to John Rutere from Meru County, certified seeds are not only scarce and costly but also difficult to access, compelling many farmers to reuse low-yield seeds.
Source: KenyaNews