Nairobi: The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Irish Potato Regulations 2019, which mandate that traders package the crop in 50-kilogram bags. The State Department for Agriculture and Livestock has warned of prosecution and penalties for those who violate these regulations, including fines of Sh500,000 or imprisonment for up to a year.
According to Kenya News Agency, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Ronoh emphasized that the regulations are designed to protect farmers from exploitative practices by unscrupulous traders. He addressed potato farmers in Nyota Ward, Kuresoi North Sub-County, stating that the maximum weight for a single package of Irish potatoes must be 50 kilograms. Dr. Ronoh also highlighted the importance of using calibrated and approved weighing scales, as stipulated by the Ministry responsible for trade.
The regulations aim to shield farmers from traders who exploit them by purchasing potatoes in oversized bags, known as 'dusura,' at low prices and then repackaging them into smaller units for profit. Despite the rules, middlemen continue to exploit farmers by forcing them to use 100-180kg bags while offering prices similar to those for 50kg bags.
Dr. Ronoh, together with Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director General Dr. Bruno Linyiru and Nakuru Deputy Governor Mr. David Kones, noted that enforcing these regulations could help reclaim up to 50 percent of farmer earnings lost due to inefficient packaging. He underlined the government's commitment to ensuring farmers receive fair returns and announced plans to construct a cold storage facility in Kuresoi North to reduce post-harvest losses.
Nakuru is a significant potato-producing county, contributing 18.9 percent of national production. Despite standardized packaging rules, enforcement has been inconsistent, with counties failing to implement the policy. Farmers continue to face exploitation from middlemen who control the markets.
The Agriculture and Food Authority has trained over 300 crop inspectors to enforce compliance with Chapter 16 of the Crops Act, which bans using extended bags for packaging. Dr. Linyiru stressed the importance of adhering to the 50-kilogram packaging standard across the entire value chain, from farm to market.
The Irish Potato Regulations 2019 empower inspectors to seize non-compliant packages in potato-growing counties. The National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) reports that approximately 200,000 farmers in Nakuru grow potatoes on over 38,000 acres, contributing significantly to the national production of 1 to 1.4 million tonnes annually.
The potato sub-sector, worth Sh50 billion, supports 3.8 million people directly and indirectly, with small-scale farmers accounting for about 83 percent of total production. The government and county units are working collaboratively to ensure full implementation of the regulations, safeguarding farmer interests and stabilizing the industry.