KENYA – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI) in partnership with the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), Egerton University, and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in a strategic effort to boost potato productivity in Kenya.
This initiative, unveiled on August 15, 2024, aims to transform the potato subsector in Nyandarua, Meru, Laikipia, and Nandi Counties, focusing on improving productivity and creating a sustainable food system.
The KSPI is designed to directly benefit approximately 150,000 farmers, with a particular emphasis on inclusivity, targeting 40% women and 10% youth.
The initiative seeks to enhance the competitiveness of the potato industry through improved value addition, marketing, and policy frameworks.
Additionally, it aims to generate over 4,800 job opportunities for young people in various sectors, including primary production, input sourcing, and marketing of potatoes.
John Macharia, AGRA’s Kenya Country Director, emphasized the initiative’s focus on strengthening market systems.
“We are trying to help the private sector build stronger market systems. We are focusing on cooperatives not just as an end to itself, but cooperatives that will result in value addition, access to markets, and processing,” he stated.
Macharia highlighted the importance of cooperatives evolving into commercial enterprises that ensure farmers receive a fair share of the value chain.
The project will be implemented over three years, from July 2024 to June 2027, and will involve multiple stakeholders, including Viazi Kings and SimpleFine.
The initiative also aims to establish structured input and output markets, enhance access to financial services, and improve coordination within the potato sub-sector to facilitate agricultural transformation.
Potato is a vital crop in Kenya, serving as both a staple food and a cash crop for many rural families. It ranks as the second most important food crop after maize, cultivated by over 800,000 households and contributing more than KES 50 billion (approximately US$ 324 million) to the economy.
Despite its significance, potato productivity in Kenya has stagnated, averaging only 7-10 tons per hectare due to poor agronomic practices and inadequate access to quality seeds.
Prof. John Ndiritu, Chair of the National Potato Council of Kenya, identified seed production as a critical challenge.
“Seeds for potatoes are the biggest bottlenecks for farmers. This project and its consortia members are looking to increase seed production from the current 900 metric tonnes to triple that amount in three years,” he explained.
The initiative aims to improve access to seed potatoes and enhance the variety and certification schemes available to farmers.
The KSPI is also set to provide extension services to farmers, ensuring they receive crucial information on sustainable farming practices.
“We are also looking to strengthen extension services through this program,” Macharia noted, adding that AGRA will employ its Village Based Advisors (VBA) model to support these efforts.
For the potato industry in Kenya to thrive, coordinated efforts from all stakeholders are essential. The KSPI aims to unify actors at both county and national levels to tackle existing challenges and seize available opportunities.
By fostering collaboration and enhancing productivity, the initiative holds promise for improving food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Kenya.
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