Sh4bn factories promise value-addition for potato farmers

Potato farmers are bound to benefit from Sh4 billion processing factories, which are expected to be completed by 2014.
Three of the four factories would be built in Nyandarua while Nyeri County would host the fourth one.

The plants would add value to farmers potato products for sale in the local and international markets.

According to the parliamentary Select committee on Agriculture Chairman John Mututho, the government and donors will fund the projects.

“So far the government has disbursed Sh52 million for feasibility studies whereas partnerships have pledged Sh2 billion for the two plants in Nyandarua named Midland Potato Processing Plants” he said.

Some of the notable partners are the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, GTZ-PSDA, and Ministry of Agriculture’s horticulture division.
Others are USAid-Kenya in Collaboration with the International Potato Centre (IPC) which has since recruited and trained 200 farmers and 120 extension officers on clean and certified seed administration and modern farming practices. Policies governing the sub-sector are also expected to change.

“The policy overhaul will enact strategic plan that will address high occurrence of diseases and pests, establishment of structures for farmers accessing certified and clean seeds, establish regional producer associations and define most applicable taxation terms,” Mr Mututho said.

He says the projected benefits by 2014 is a fully functional policy and legal notice to govern production and marketing of potatoes in order to raise national yield to 10 tonnes per hectare.

These would see qualified extension officers train farmers and investment in new farming technology.

Mr Mututho said that the move was necessary because potato farming is the second most important food crop after maize.

Part of the legal framework to boost productivity is the new law that bans use of extended bags to package potatoes destined for the market and rein in market brokers who distort the prices.

The laws call for a jail term of six months or a fine of Sh50,000 or both for a farmer and broker caught trading in potatoes packed in extended bags.

According to Kinangop MP David Ngugi, middlemen encourage the use of extended bags. “The brokers insist that farmers package potatoes for the market in extended bags but the same produce is packed in smaller bags or sold in small measures for abnormal profits,” he says.