Potato farming in Kenya is one of the most lucrative farming businesses in the country. It is the third most important food worldwide, and in Kenya, it is the second most important subsequent food crop after maize.
Nyandarua County is the highest producer of potatoes in Kenya because it is the most grown crop by small-scale farmers, generating food and employment for the people and the country at large.
The first international potato celebration conference and trade fair was held on May 30, 2024, at KALRO (Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation) in Oljoro Orok, Nyandarua County, bearing the theme “Harvesting Diversity and Feeding the Future,” and included activities like exhibitions, field demos, and knowledge sharing sessions.
Its main objectives were to celebrate the diversity of potatoes and their significant nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural contributions globally. Secondly, networking and knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the potato value chain, promoting the adoption of sustainable practices and innovation, and lastly, launching partnerships to enhance the transformation of the potato industry.
The event was attended by national and county government officials such as the Governor of Nyandarua, Kiarie Badilisha, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mithika Linturi, Francis Mirigu, who is the county executive committee member in Nyandarua County, the Director General of KALRO, Dr. Eliud Kireger, Mr. Douglous Kangi, the National Government Director of Crop Development, and others. There were also key sponsors such as Twiga Chemicals, OCP Group, Seeds2B Africa, Solidadrid, and farmers.
During the event, there were a variety of potato exhibitions, sharing knowledge of potato seed with the farmers, showcasing chemical and non-chemical methods of pest and weed control, post-harvesting, value addition, storage, potato industry, and how to enhance potato production rate.
The host, Wachira Kaguongo, who is the CEO of the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), said that Nyandarua is the highest producer of potatoes in Kenya, and for the past few months, they have been urging the government to set up a packaging potato industry in the county.
“Nyandarua is the highest producer of potatoes in the country as it produces more potatoes, unlike other counties. For a long time, we have been fighting to have a potato packaging industry here, but it’s yet to be set up. We hope that it will be done as soon as possible,” he said.
James Biringo, one of the guest speakers, said that it was the first potato celebration to happen in Nyandarua, and he hoped that it was the beginning of many more celebrations in the county.
“This is the first potato celebration to be done in Nyandarua. I just hope that this being the beginning has opened doors for more celebrations to happen,” he said.
He added that more companies and stakeholders should participate in supplying potato seeds to farmers, especially in apical cuttings and small tubers, where there has always been a gap.
“Stakeholders and companies should join hands with farmers and provide seeds to them, especially in apical cuttings and small tubers, because there has always been a gap,” he said.
Most of the agriculture officials present urged the farmers to continue embracing potato farming, as they will also work with them by providing seeds next month, not forgetting fertilisers and chemicals at fair prices.
By Mueni Munuve and Banis Wairimu
