State partners with farmers to produce potato seeds

The government plans to contract farmers to multiply certified potato seeds in its bid to fight poverty and hunger by increasing food production.

Two government institutions and five private farms in various parts of the country have already been picked for the project using aeroponic technology through a public-private partnership.

The venture is funded by the United States Agency for International Development

Potato seed multiplication units have been constructed at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute - Tigoni, Agricultural Development Corporation - Molo, Suera Farm (Nyahururu), Kisima farm in Timau and GTL in Nairobi and Limuru.

Multiplication units

“This means the potato seed production and quality will improve greatly because we have decentralised the multiplication units to be within the reach of the farmers,” says Ms Dinah Borus, the potato chain leader at the International Potato Centre.

Potato experts say due to low multiplication rates, it takes seven seasons of seed production before the farmer can afford the seed.

However, the project which is known as the third generation envisages producing large numbers of minitubers through aeroponic technology.

It was started last year and is aimed at upgrading the status of the commodity as a strategic crop by boosting its production.

According to Ms Borus, 57 farmers from 19 districts have been contracted to further multiply the seeds after they are developed in the units.

Producing quality

An additional 250 farmers will also be trained on producing quality, disease-free potatoes.

“Farmer groups are now involved in seed multiplication under the supervision of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service,” the Central provincial director of agriculture Mr Joseph Gachingiri told Business Daily.

Potato yields have remained stagnant over the past decade due to use of poor quality by small-scale growers, improper post-harvest practices, and climate change and high prices of seeds.

Despite being the country’s second most important food crop after maize, the local potato industry has been facing a severe shortage of clean planting materials which has led to low production.