Nairobi: Over 150,000 small-holder potato farmers in Kenya are set to benefit from climate-smart agriculture trainings, thanks to a partnership between the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), and Egerton University. The initiative aims to enhance potato production for both local consumption and export.
According to Kenya News Agency, the NPCK is spearheading a three-year project named the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI). The project, with a budget of Sh195 million (US$1.5 million), seeks to promote sustainable potato farming by adopting climate-smart practices. The primary objective is to increase the productivity and income of the targeted farmers while creating employment for over 4,000 youth. Additionally, the project aims to indirectly benefit another 300,000 farmers through value-chain improvements.
NPCK Board Chairman, Prof. John Ndiritu, noted that the project aims to empower 150,000 farmers, with 40 percent being women and 10 percent youth. Targeting the major potato-producing counties of Nyandarua, Meru, Laikipia, and Nandi, the initiative plans to strengthen 400 potato farmer groups with structured marketing systems. This support will include digitizing the groups, providing farm inputs, and facilitating market access to ensure fair pricing.
The project also focuses on equipping agricultural extension officers and experts to train farmers on modern farming practices to mitigate risks like drought, floods, and climate-induced pests and diseases. Prof. Ndiritu highlighted that a key objective is to increase certified seed production from the current 900 metric tons to three times that amount in three years, addressing the shortage that hampers potato trade in the country.
Prof. Ndiritu also mentioned that village-based advisers would be trained in climate-smart potato production technologies to reduce post-harvest losses by 50 percent. The project will promote mechanized potato farming and sustainable practices such as using green energy.
Prof. Antony Kibe, leading Egerton University's role in the KSPI project, emphasized the significance of potatoes, which are the second-most consumed food in Kenya after maize. Despite the high demand, Kenya's potato production is limited by poor seed quality and other challenges. Prof. Kibe noted that only 5 percent of farmers have access to certified seeds, leading to the recycling of historical seeds and reduced productivity.
The KSPI project, which concludes in June 2027, aims to integrate 190 students and youths into the potato value chain, providing experiential learning opportunities. The initiative seeks to address challenges such as lack of certified seeds, training in good agricultural practices, and access to modern technology and markets.
A report by the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) revealed declining potato yields in Kenya, attributed to factors like pests and diseases. The Food and Agriculture Organization ranks Kenya 33rd in global potato production, with output declining from 2.1 million metric tonnes in 2021 to 1.7 million in 2022. The KSPI project aims to reverse this trend by bolstering the potato sub-sector and aligning with the government's economic strategies.