Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, Kenya – August 15, 2024– A major new program has been unveiled to transform Kenya’s potato sector, with the launch of the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI). This collaborative project, led by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in partnership with the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), Egerton University, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), and the County Governments of Nyandarua, is set to revitalize the potato value chain in Nyandarua, Meru, Laikipia, and Nandi Counties.
The KSPI aims to enhance potato productivity and establish a sustainable food system across the target counties. It is designed to directly benefit 150,000 farmers, with 40% of them being women and 10% youth, while also creating over 4,800 jobs for young people in areas such as primary production, input sourcing, and marketing. The project will span three years, from July 2024 to June 2027.
A significant focus of the KSPI is to improve the competitiveness of the potato industry by advancing value addition, marketing practices, and policy frameworks. It will be spearheaded by the NPCK, alongside KALRO, Egerton University, Viazi Kings, and SimpleFine.
This initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation through AGRA, addresses a crucial gap in Kenya’s food security and agricultural integration. John Macharia, AGRA’s Kenya Country Director, emphasized the program’s dual focus on building market systems and strengthening cooperatives. He highlighted the importance of cooperatives evolving into commercial entities that offer farmers a more substantial stake in the value chain.
Additionally, Macharia discussed the initiative’s commitment to enhancing extension services, working with county governments to bolster policies and capabilities, and employing the Village Based Advisors (VBA) model to support extension efforts.
Potatoes, a staple and cash crop in Kenya, are the second most critical food crop after maize. They are cultivated by over 800,000 households, employing approximately 2.7 million people along the supply chain, and contribute over KES 50 billion (about USD 324 million) to the economy. However, productivity has stagnated in recent years, with yields averaging 7-10 tons per hectare due to poor agronomic practices and suboptimal seeds and inputs.
Prof. John Ndiritu, Chair of the NPCK, identified inadequate seed availability as a primary bottleneck. The KSPI aims to address this by tripling seed production from 900 metric tons to 2,700 metric tons within three years, expanding potato varieties, and improving certification schemes. This will enhance the quality and traceability of potato production, aligning with demands from major buyers.
The initiative also aims to increase seed potato production by 50 percent and provide 150,000 farmers with information on sustainable practices. It will support 400 potato farmer groups, strengthening their capabilities to engage in structured marketing systems and effectively adopt production and marketing strategies.
Overall, the KSPI seeks to unify efforts from various stakeholders to overcome existing challenges and leverage opportunities in Kenya’s potato sector, paving the way for a more productive and sustainable industry.